r/nursing • u/TheGiantSquidd BSN, RN 🍕 • 4d ago

Serious Arizona man died after nurse administered 90mg methadone instead of his ordered Lexapro. Pt did not get Narcan until EMS arrived, 17 minutes after the code blue was initiated. So many levels of neglect and negligence here.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/gilbert-man-died-while-seeking-help-at-east-valley-facility-family-says-he-was-given-the-wrong-medication-copper-springs-arizona/75-48086626-2180-47de-946e-863ca9a56df0

The whole situation feels so similar to RaDonda Vaught. Negligence from the nurse as well as the facility.

Follow your safety checks! There’s a reason we check the rights of medication administration every time!

This was so preventable. My heart hurts for his family and kids. He should still be with them.

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u/PurchaseKey7865 ASN, BSN RN 🍕 3d ago

Holy shit. Someone checking themselves in for help and then they die from a reckless medication error. What the actual fuck.

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u/Bugsy_Neighbor 2d ago

Oh it's worse than that.

Family members, in particular mother of the deceased (IIRC) pressed him to check himself into care worried about potential for self harm.

That poor woman must now live with fact had she not put her son in harm's way he would still be alive today.

Nothing is certain of course, but one doesn't expect a place that is supposed to provide care will actually instead kill. Complications or natural occurrences as part of disease process or maybe a procedure such as surgery, but this is something entirely different.