Article posted on:12/18/2007

As reported in numerous media outlets last week, actor Randy Quaid filed a lawsuit against Baxter International, a pharaceutical company, after his infant twins were given an overose of the Baxter-manufacturerd blood thinner heparin at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The suit alleges that Baxter was negligent because the company's packaging design for heparin contributed to the hospital mix-up in the dosage. The suit notes that Baxter produces two vials of two different strengths, each with a blue background. One strength has a concentration of 10 units of heparin per milliliter, and the other has a concentration of 10,000 units per milliliter. The hospital administered the product that was 1000 times as strong. The suit contends Baxter was negligent because it knew that three infants died last year as a result of a similar heparin overdose related to packaging confusion but failed to recall the product or issue a warning to hospitals. The Quaid twins have recovered from the overdosage and the lawsuit seeks to bring awareness of the frequency of medication overdoses to the general public.

Medication errors and overdose occur at an alarming rate. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a medication error or overdose, call the lawyers at Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White for a free consultation at 410-385-2225.