Bend, Ore. – St. Charles released more details today about a fatal mistake that killed a Sisters woman last week at the Bend hospital.
St. Charles authorities say a worker put the wrong drug in an IV bag. Last week 65 year old Loretta MacPherson of Sisters went to the ER in Bend for treatment following brain surgery at another facility.
St. Charles says while she was in the Emergency Department she was accidently given a drug that causes paralysis and she went into cardiac arrest. She was taken off of life support a couple of days later.
A panel of St. Charles officials held a news conference in Bend today. The hospital is taking several steps to prevent a future mistake. They are starting a new “safety zone” for pharmacists and techs to work that will eliminate distractions.
Hospital officials are also adding more steps to verify medications, including using labels and especially for paralytic medications.
They also plan to better monitor patients after a drug has been administered.
