Pharma labels that look like other products could present a danger in hospitals.

A death in a hospital in the US has highlighted the dangers that can arise from pharmaceutical labels looking the same as those for other products.

Kidney disease patient Richard Smith, 79, had been undergoing hospital treatment in Miami, ABC News reports.

He complained of an upset stomach and was prescribed an antacid, but went into respiratory arrest the following day. The patient was left brain dead and died a month later.

It emerged that the nurse on duty had picked up the wrong packaging, failed to properly check the pharma label and had given Mr Smith the muscle relaxant and paralytic pancuronium.

Checks including scans to verify medication had also not been done.

Michigan State University experts recently urged drug manufacturers to make pharma labels simple if they are to be understood in emergency situation, pointing out that medics could be wasting valuable seconds trying to understand the instructions on drugs and devices.
 
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Denny Bros Ltd, 25 November 2011