A PATIENT at a Dublin hospital took an overdose of ibuprofen medication after a nurse inadvertently left a tub of tablets in close proximity to his bed, an inquest has heard.
Noel Martin (62), of Mount Drummond, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, was admitted to St James’s Hospital on June 22nd, 2010, with the onset of a stroke for which he received treatment.
On August 20th, 2010, Mr Martin, who had a history of diabetes and heart problems, took between 40 and 60 ibuprofen tablets after a nurse inadvertently left a container at the end of the bed table after giving Mr Martin two prescribed tablets for pain relief.
Mr Martin, who had spent five months in hospital following a previous stroke in 2009, had been informed of his prognosis for recovery earlier that day.
The nurse, Sarah Murray, returned to the nurses’ station to start writing patient notes after giving the patient two tablets.
Minutes later the nurse noted Mr Martin in physical distress. She then noticed the tub of remaining tablets, which she had closed, was open. She asked the patient if he had taken the tablets, and he told her he had.
Mr Martin was then seen by a doctor. He developed a gastric bleed following the overdose and his warfarin anti-clotting medication was stopped, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard.
He suffered a more severe stroke three days later, and died on September 14th.
Mr Martin was already at risk of having a stroke, and the ibuprofen, which led to a bleed and the stopping of his wafarin, put him at further risk, the inquest heard.
“The issue on August 20th constituted a risk factor” for a stroke, said coroner Dr Brian Farrell. “The incident on the 20th was a co-morbidity for the final stroke.”
The coroner said the cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, complicating a previous stroke. He recorded a narrative verdict, a summary of the facts of the case.
Nurse Sarah Murray told the inquest that she forgot to pick up the tub with the remaining tablets and inadvertently left it where she had placed it at the end of the bed table.
“The table would have been within the reach of the patient . . . but the patient would have had to make an effort to reach it given his physical limitations.”
Ms Murray added that she realised the medication should not have been left close to the patient’s bed.
“The proper course would have been to bring the tub of tablets to the clinic room and having taken out the prescribed amount for the patient, leaving the balance in the tub in the drug trolley.
“I regret this inadvertance on my part, which resulted in the tub being left accessible to the patient.”
Speaking from the body of the court, Mr Martin’s daughter, Sinead Martin, said they felt if he had not taken the tablets he would still have had a stroke.
The coroner expressed his condolences to the Martin family.