Leading pathologist died after fatal medication error at his own hospital, UK inquest finds
A 'cascade of errors' led to Professor Ray McMahon being administered the wrong drug at three times the recommended dose.
The death of one of Britain’s most respected pathologists has been traced to a catastrophic medication error at hospital where he worked.
Professor Ray McMahon experienced a cardiac arrest after being given the wrong form of amphotericin at three times the recommended dose.
An inquest heard that the president-elect of the International Academy of Pathology was originally admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester in February this year with a low-grade fever, chronic cough and decreased appetite.
After four days, the 68-year-old was transferred to ICU. The hospital’s infectious diseases specialist recommended liposomal amphotericin — used for fungal respiratory infections — if his condition did not improve.
