Error from hospital pharmacy: 18-year-old woman given medicine for heart disease to treat rheumatism

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: An 18-year-old woman is in critical condition after taking the wrong medicine due to the negligence of medical college hospital pharmacy staff. A native of Elampazhannoor, Chadayamangalam, was given a stronger tablet called Isosorbide Dinitrate used for treating heart disease instead of Visalon used for the treatment of rheumatism. After taking the pill for 40 days, the girl's skin broke off and blood started pouring out.

With this, the patient was admitted to the emergency department of the medical college hospital on Sunday night. Doctors suspect damage to the internal organs due to an overdose of heart medication. Minister Veena George ordered an inquiry into the incident. It is instructed that the Director of Medical Education should submit a report immediately.

The girl reached the Medicine OP on August 22. The doctor prescribed seven pills to her. The first pill was Visalon which was supposed to be taken daily in the morning. Instead, Isosorbide Dinitrate for 40 days was given free of charge from the hospital campus pharmacy. The girl who studying for entrance coaching in Kozhikode was staying in a hostel.

From the first day of taking the pill, the woman started showing fatigue followed by dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. The patient sought treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode two days ago. It was during the examination it was found that the wrong medicine was given. The family was informed immediately. The patient was brought to the emergency department of the medical college as per the instructions of the doctors in Kozhikode.

The girl's family lodged a complaint with the medical college police and the hospital superintendent. Isosorbide dinitrate for heart disease is not given to patients in high doses. Suspicions are rising about whether the people in the pharmacy knew this fact.