In reaction to having their twin babies overdosed with an anti-coagulant drug at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dennis Quaid and his wife, Kimberly Buffington, are suing the company that manufactures the drug. The suit against Baxter Healthcare Corp. is alleging that the packaging for Heparin appears to be practically identical for both the 10-unit version and the 10,000-unit version of the drug and this is the basis for the confusion that lead to about a dozen patients being overdosed with the drug at Cedars-Sinai. Although the babies' health was, according to Quaid's lawyer, "very critical for a while, "at the moment, "everything looks good." Hmm, how I wish mislabeled packaging were to blame for this, as much as I doubt it.
Photos: PacificCoastNews.com
sasha says:
I dont think they have any grounds for suing. ITS just a something bad happened I need to sur someone situation. THey might not have logical grounds but that never stops them from getting money
Julia says:
Wait... you had 3 babies killed in Indiana less than a year ago because hospital staff couldn't easily distinguish between a dosage of 10,000 and 10 units and this very same thing happens again to yet another 2 families (the Quaids and another family with children in care) and they don't have any grounds for suing the company that labels the drug? Give me a break... Do you work for Bayer, Sasha? Own their stock?
blah says:
Not to take away from this tragedy, but suing the people who make the drug is a little ridiculous. This was a gross and terrible accident that happened, but it is not the result of the drug company. This is the fault of the person who administered the drug. Nurses, LPN's and doctors all know how to read. Yes this is terrible, but it's like trying to sue a car company because someone got behind the wheel and drove while intoxicated.
Amy says:
I doubt the Quaids are doing this for money. But the suit will lead to those labels being changed. And that will save other families from such pain. I've seen images on the news of the two bottles and there is a minimal difference between the two. I thought that the 10,000 dose should be in red. But right now they are in varied shades of blue.
rootabega says:
jesus, i would sue too! im not sure suing the drug company instead of the hospital is viable, but im sure they have their reasons for it.
Julia says:
Blah, you have a point. The heparin had to be administered by nurses, LPNs, etc., etc. The problem is, as I understand, is that it is nearly impossible to distinguish between 10,000 units and 10 units of heparin. The vials are the same size, the labels are the same color, the drug, of course, is clear. Let's be honest-- if the Quaids are suing for $50,000, they are not suing for damages. They are suing for a change in the packaging to be sure this doesn't happen to more than the 3 kids who already died in Indiana. By the way, I don't know if they've ruled out suing Cedar-Sinai....
Persistent Cat says:
Poor taste but man he's a DILF.
stolidog says:
major, major DILF
Persistent Cat says:
Please Dennis, if you read this, DON'T get surgery. Don't fuck up that beautiful beautiful face.
jim says:
Yet the Quaid's don't sue the hospital?, the staff who did not follow hospital protocol?, even though the hospital previously had put out warnings to be careful in using the product? It sure seems like there is plenty of blame to go around here yet they only choose to sue Baxter!
By the way, Heparin has been on the market for a very long time and is used safely almost most of the time, especially when you hire people who follow proper drug administration. I am sure Cedar-Sinai made a wonderful, generous donation to the twins for their college/trust funds in order to make this go away for the hospital!
Zekers says:
I completely understand why they are suing the drug company...as other posters said, they WILL change those labels now I bet. The staff that administered the incorrect dosages should be relieved of their job...there is NO excuse for not looking more carefully at labels...none...I don't care how much they resemble each other!
Applespice says:
Apparently they are not suing the hospital b/c the hospital put in more effective measures to ensure this did not happen again immeadietly after it happened. According to CBS this morning...
Still, if those were my babies it happened to, I'd be going after the hospital and the company!! Did anyone see the photos of the drug? At a glance, it's impossible to tell apart!
Still, any nurse/lpn/doc can tell you that it is stressed that you ALWAYS ensure you are giving the right drug at the right dosage.
Helen Skor says:
I can understand why they are suing. The attention that the media is giving this issue alone is enough to encourage packaging changes, and that seems to be what the Quaids are really after. I hope, however, that if they get a big settlement that they will donate it to a children's charity.
And on a side note, is it just me, or does Dennis Quaid keep getting hotter?
Zekers says:
Its not just you, Helen Skor...
Interloper says:
People sue WAY too much in this day and age, however, I'd say for once this is a situation where someone SHOULD sue - particularly sue the hospital for not taking more care but the drug manufacturer are to blame as well for not making packaging distinct enough to tell them apart immediately. Hell if I had a kid and their health was critically compromised by someone administering the wrong dosage of a drug, I'd want someone to compensate me too.