Man dies after drug mix up
Mr Senior was unaware he was suffering with pulmonary fibrosis and his family recall him as fit and active, despite suffering with asthma, before he developed a chest infection in November 2007.
Mr Senior had been given antibiotics for the chest infection which he stopped taking before completing the course as he thought the infection had cleared up. However it returned and he was prescribed a further course.
On Sunday 18 November 2007 Mr Senior began experiencing breathing difficulties and pains in his calves. His wife called an ambulance and Mr Senior was taken to Dewsbury District Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Mr Senior remained in hospital.
Mr Senior was struggling with maintaining his oxygen levels, so was given an oxygen mask while in bed. However, on the evening of Sunday 19 November he went to the bathroom without any oxygen support and collapsed.
His condition deteriorated and later that evening Mr Senior was admitted to ITU. He was started on an infusion of Amiodarone, along with other drugs. Unfortunately Mr Senior’s condition did not improve and he remained on the Amiodarone infusion the following night.
The Amiodarone infusion was made up to infuse over a 24 hour period. The first infusion made up was of 900mg of Amiodarone in 500mls of fluid to run at an infusion rate of 21mls/hour. However, the second infusion made up was of 900mg of Amiodarone in 48mls of fluid to run at a rate of 2mls/hour.
Patient given wrong dose
When the second infusion was put up, rather than being set to infuse at a rate of 2mls/hour, it was continued at a rate of 21mls/hour.
Mr Senior’s condition deteriorated shortly after the second infusion was commenced. However, the mistake with the infusion rate was not initially appreciated and Mr Senior received nearly a 24 hour dose of Amiodarone in a 2-4 hour period. His body was unable to cope with the wrong dose and he died later that day.
The family were represented by solicitors from Irwin Mitchell at the Inquest into Mr Senior’s death in March 2009 where a Narrative Verdict was returned. A Letter of Claim was subsequently forwarded to the Trust who admitted liability for Mr Senior’s death. Settlement has now been reached.