Fatal Med Error

[AtheistRN, ADN, RN]

If a terminal, DNR resident dies and a med/transcription error is discovered, how and to whom does one report this to avoid potential cover-ups? I cannot elaborate, but imagine what Rx is ordered.

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

I would follow protocol on med errors regardless of the scenario.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Exactly. It is the only way to avoid issues. Follow letter of the law for your location

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Really? I can guess the medication in question was morphine. Unless there was an autopsy how would you or anyone else know the cause of death? An error is an error. Report it following your facility's policy.

[Sam J.]

If a terminal, DNR resident dies and a med/transcription error is discovered, how and to whom does one report this to avoid potential cover-ups? I cannot elaborate, but imagine what Rx is ordered.

If you're talking about narcotics, there are far too many checks and balances in place (not so much so for other drugs that aren't monitored so closely) to avoid detecting a potentially fatal overdose, if that's what you suspect may have happened- and with all those checks and balances, such an error would or could easily be found out. I'd treat it as any other med error, and follow the protocol to the "T"- if you're concerned about whether or not to report it, or how, you must realize that a lawyer may some day be poring over those medical records with a fine-toothed comb to find inconsistencies.

[AtheistRN, ADN, RN]

Of course it needs to be reported, that's not even in question. And if protocol leaves room for cover-up by the powers that be, what then? A simple in-house med error report isn't an option.

[Sam J.]

So, the plot thickens....

But a cover-up would be awfully hard to cover up.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Think everyone's on track with prior responses.