By PHATLAW Staff

Dennis Quaid’s new born twins were given a 1,000 percent overdose of heparin last Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This is obviously a horrible medical error, but it is an error that could have been prevented.

PHATLAW has learned that the FDA and Baxter Healthcare Corporation, one of the manufacturers of heparin, issued a statement last February warning hospitals and doctors of the dangers of mistaking the 10 unit vial of heparin with the 10,000 unit vial of heparin. In this statement, the FDA and Baxter also told hospitals to double check their inventory to ensure that these mistakes in dosage would not happen. This statement was circulated to Cedars along with numerous other hospitals.

Since Cedars received this memo related to the dangers of mistaking the low dose of heparin with the high dose, it was on notice to implement safety standards to prevent this horrible medical error. PHATLAW is unaware of the procedures and standards (if any) that Cedars implemented after receiving this memo, but PHATLAW is certain that the California Department of Public Health’s investigation will determine if any procedures were implemented to avoid this error. Regardless, PHATLAW would not be shocked if the Quaid family and/or other families affected by this mistake take action in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and medical personnel involved.

PhatThought: Thankfully, it is reported that all of the patients who received this overdose will make a full recovery with no lasting side effects.

PHATLAW will continue to post the latest developments in this case.