Friday, January 22, 2010

Wrong Medicine Kills Baby


The wrong choice of cold medicine killed a 7-month-old boy in Dayton Ohio last November. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office issued the ruling Thursday after toxicology tests revealed that there was too much medicine in the boy's body.

Coroner Dr. James Davis said that the death was a terrible accident that could happen to any parent if they are not careful. The baby had a cold, and it seems that those watching him got the wrong medication at the store. The baby was given pediatric dosing instead of infant dosing, meaning that the baby was given medicine meant for a child over the age of 2. There was too much of the drug in the baby's system, causing it to act like a poison and not a medication.

No one will be charged in the case because the death was ruled an accident. Officials warn that over-the-counter drugs for children are not all the same, and making the wrong choice could be deadly. "People just have to pay attention and stay focused," Davis said, adding that parents should look closely at all medication labels.

0 comments: