State Launches Investigation Into Patient Death At Oakland Hospital
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The California Department of Public Health has launched an investigation into the death of a woman at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland early Saturday.
Cancer patient Judith Ming, 66, died after being given a non-prescribed lethal dose of medication by a replacement nurse hired to cover striking nurses shifts.
Ralph Montano with the California Department of Public Health said investigations into so-called "never events," which are 28 medical errors deemed inexcusable take state and federal laws into account.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
Montano said investigators will go into the facility, in this case Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, for a day or two to look at records and interview staff and witnesses.
"We make our preliminary assessment in the facility an then we go and confer with our federal counterparts," Montano said.
A state report will then be drafted and an exit conference held at Summit regarding what happened to Ming.
Oakland police and the Distraict Attorney's office are also investigating the case.
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