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Heparin Overdoses

Heparin overdoses have occurred many times in U.S. hospitals, although healthcare providers are reluctant to admit it. Yet another heparin overdose was linked to the death of infant twins in Corpus Christi, Texas in July 2008. At the hospital where the twins were born as many as 15 other infants may also have received a heparin overdose due to a pharmacy error.

Hundreds of Heparin Errors Each Year
In fact, during the past year and a half, roughly 250 medical errors involving heparin and children under one year old have been documented around the U.S. Heparin overdoses are dangerous for any patient, but very young children are particularly vulnerable to this type of mistake, in part due to their lower body weight.

Celebrity Heparin Overdose
The dangers of a heparin overdose were illustrated by the highly publicized November 2007 medical error involving the twin infants of a well-known actor, Dennis Quaid. The babies were given a dose of heparin that was 10,000 times stronger than the correct dose. This happened at one of the most highly respected medical facilities in the U.S., the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

In fact, each year in the U.S., roughly one and a half million patients are given the wrong dose of a medication. Heparin overdoses account for a significant proportion of these medication errors.

Signs of a Heparin Overdose
Heparin is an anti-clotting agent that can be injected or infused, and it is also used to clean out intravenous lines, vascular access lines, and catheters to prevent clotting. A heparin overdose in any of these applications can be very dangerous — even fatal.

The signs of a heparin overdose include:

  • bleeding (possibly uncontrollable) — e.g. nosebleeds, blood in the urine, or bleeding from an i.v. line
  • tarry stools
  • bruising or petechial formations (spots from a hemorrhage)

If a Heparin Overdose Has Harmed You or Your Family Member
A heparin overdose can have devastating consequences. Contact an experienced attorney today if you have questions or concerns about a heparin overdose, and get the help you need.

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