Hospital Tackles Errors That Led to Overdoses
A hospital promised to revamp its laboratory procedures after state investigators confirmed that faulty tests led dozens of patients to overdose on a blood-thinning medication. Two patients died.
Officials at St. Agnes Medical Center in Philadelphia said patients received errant doses of the anticoagulant warfarin, known by the brand name Coumadin, from June 4 to July 25. Most were unharmed, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Warfarin is prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots. A blood clot can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
The city medical examiner said Vincent Arguto, 74, and Louis Vitello, 89, died of bleeding in the brain.
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