A couple have been left in shock after their one-year-old son was administered with the wrong syringe during a routine scan and almost died.
Jessica Newsome and Blake Campbell’s son Declan was rushed to Nepean Hospital, in Sydney’s west, earlier this year after falling head-first from his cot.
Declan was seen immediately by doctors, who advised the parents they would need to do a CT scan to investigate the huge bump which had appeared on his head.
Because of his age, they were told he would need to be sedated, 9 News reported.
Declan (pictured) almost died after he was injected with the wrong syringe at Nepean Hospital
Declan fell out of his cot back in February giving him a lump to his head, which led to his parents taking him to hospital
Things took a horrific turn when Declan was mistakenly injected with a syringe that turned his lips blue and caused him to stop breathing for 90 seconds.
‘He was just limp. He was just nothing. He went straight pale. I said to the doctor ‘something’s wrong’. He just picked the kid up and ran,’ mother-of-two Ms Newsome told 9 News.
Ms Newsome said the staff member began to cry, knowing something went wrong, and Declan was rushed away and placed on a metal tray for urgent treatment.
The problem was recorded on the discharge papers, which revealed the doctor administered the wrong syringe to Declan.
‘In emergency, ED doctor accidentally administered 12mg of intravenous Suxamethonium instead of administering 12mg of Ketamine to child.’
According to NPS MedicineWise Suxamethonium is used to stop your muscles moving during surgery or medical procedures and ketamine is a medical and veterinary drug that kills pain.
Suxamethonium is far more powerful than ketamine.
According to the discharge papers, both syringes were in the same tray.
Jessica Newsome and Blake Campbell’s son was injected with a syringe that turned his lips blue causing him to stop breathing for 90 seconds
Declan’s parents were shocked to find out their son almost died after being administered the wrong drug.
Ms Newsome called Mr Campbell in a panic, telling him what had happened to Declan.
‘Just go for a quick CT scan just to make sure he had no problems and it happened to turn out to be he nearly died,’ Mr Campbell said.
Declan’s parents were shocked to find out their son almost died after being administered the wrong injection
Dr Peter Thomas, Director of Medical Services, Nepean Hospital spoke to Daily Mail Australia saying the hospital had apologised to Ms Newsome and Mr Campbell.
He said the hospital was working on a clinical review to reveal exactly how the mistake was made, and to ensure it wouldn’t happen again.
‘Nepean Hospital has apologised to the parents of a 12 month old baby for giving him the wrong medication prior to a CT scan and will meet with the family to fully disclose the findings of a clinical review of their son’s care,’ Dr Thomas said.
‘The mistake was immediately recognised and action taken to counter the effects of the drug.
‘While the baby was in the emergency department, the treating doctor apologised for the mistake and provided full disclosure, explaining to the parents what had happened and a social worker provided support to the parents.
‘The Director of the Emergency Department also met with the parents that day and apologised.
‘The baby recovered and the Hospital will implement the recommendations of the review to prevent the mistake from happening again.’
The hospital has since apologised to Ms Newsome and Mr Campbell and the Director of the Emergency Department also met with the parents that day and apologised