Patient died from 8GMs of Dilantin

I have never given IV Dilantin but even to me that seems like a huge dose. Was she afraid to question the Drs order or did it not even occur to her? What I do not uderstand is why the doctor is being held accountable? I have never had a doctor write an order and then watch me give the medication to make sure that I have given the right med, dose, ect. Does not seem fair to me.

What's weird to me is that after nine years of nursing, she made a mistake like that? Dilantin IV is fairly common down here.

The article stated that the dismissal of the doc was part of the deal with the husband of the dead woman.

The 800 mg the MD ordered is not a huge dose for a seizing patient. Loading doses are often up to 1000 mg. I wouldn't have questioned the MD or batted an eye at this ordered dose.

8000 mg as we are reading is a lethal dose. I can't fathom drawing up that much Dilantin. I hate to judge, the nurse must be devastated.

There must be more to the story that we are reading about the MD because calling a family on a death in the ER doesn't seem unusual. Unless there is a specific written policy that it's the chaplin's job, or some other policy he/she broke.