I suppose it should come as no surprise, but a new study reveals much higher than expected medication error rates for hospitalized children. Prior to the study, the accepted medication error rate for hospitalized children was two out of 100. The study reveals that the rate is more than five times higher at 11 out of 100.

That translates to 7.3 percent of hospitalized kids. Projected out, we’re talking about 540,000 kids per year.

The issue has been under study for some time, but the findings are getting more publicity because of the Quaid twins incident. Medication errors are one of those never-should-happen malpractice events. These results really raise a red flag for those of us concerned with child safety. Let’s hope that our medical providers take these findings to heart, and that they develop new approaches to eliminate these preventable errors.

David Sugerman

Very articulate 60-Minutes interview of actor Dennis Quaid regarding his first-hand experience with preventable medical errors. The video is a bit long, but it is a compelling piece.

Quaid’s twin infant children both received the wrong dose of Heparin, a blood thinner, while hospitalized at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. There were actually two separate overdose incidents for each baby. In each instance, hospital staff gave the drug in doses a thousand times stronger that what is appropriate for an infant.

The description is graphic. Every parent’s worst nightmare. Mr. Quaid explains what those of us who handle these cases have known for a long time. Preventable medical errors commonly kill patients.

The problem is worse because patients are at the mercy of providers. When you’re driving your car, you can drive defensively. But when your child is hospitalized, all you can do is hope and pray that everyone is being attentive.

David F. Sugerman