Unintentional medication error results in criminal charges

for a Wisconsin nurse. The medication error consisted of the nurse accidentally administering a bag of epidural analgesic intravenously rather than the intended penicillin. The 16-year-old patient, who was in labor, died as a result of this medication error. The nurse faces six years in jail and a $25,000 fine. This tragic accident and the nurse's subsequent criminal charges are discussed in a press release at the Institute of Safe Medication Practices website:

"While there is considerable pressure from the public and the legal system to blame and punish individuals who make fatal errors, filing criminal charges against a healthcare provider who is involved in a medication error is unquestionably egregious and may only serve to drive the reporting of errors underground. The belief that a medication error could lead to felony charges, steep fines, and a jail sentence can also have a chilling effect on the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers--particularly nurses, who are already in short supply."