Judge shocked nurse employed after wrongful injection

By Sapeer Mayron 02 December 2020, 11:00AM

Samoa’s coroner is shocked a nurse involved in an inquest over a pregnant 23-year-old mother’s death is still working at the National Hospital in Motootua. 

T.V.1. reports Coroner and District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Papalii told the coronial court last week she is “surprised and shocked” that registered nurse Mele Leilua continues to work.

Leilua has told the inquest into Victoria Samuelu’s death that she administered the wrong medication, meant for another patient.

She said she administered the antibiotic ampicillin prescribed for someone else to Ms. Samuelu claiming she mixed the two patients up.

Leilua also said she did not record that Ms. Samuelu had received ampicillin on her patient notes.

When Judge Alalatoa asked her why not, Leilua said she forgot. The judge said it appears the nurse was trying to hide her mistake. 

The court heard a doctor had not ordered the ampicillin and that Leilua chose to administer it and did not ask the patient if she was allergic to the antibiotic.

Doctors and other nurses are among five witnesses who gave evidence in the inquest, which has been adjourned until 08 February 2021.

Ms. Samuelu died in September at the maternity ward of the national hospital. The incorrect medication had been injected into her intravenous drip bag.

Ampicillin is used to treat bacterial infections. 

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Health
By Sapeer Mayron 02 December 2020, 11:00AM
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