Powerful Testimony About Twins' Overdose

Actor Dennis Quaid testified before the House Committee on Wednesday about how his newborn twins came dangerously close to death after an overdose of the blood-thinning medication, Heparin. He faults the drug company for not recalling bottles that were easily confused. The drug companies had previous problems because of the easily confused bottles.

Here are some stand-out quotes from the article:

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-California, said, "This is exactly the wrong time for the FDA to say, 'Trust us.' As a result of chronic underfunding and weak leadership, FDA's ability to protect the public is plummeting."

..instead of the 10 units of heparin they were supposed to receive, the twins received 10,000 units, 1,000 times the prescribed amount. The babies survived, apparently with no permanent injury, Quaid told members of Congress, although no one knows whether they will show any long-term effects.

In researching the incident, Quaid told lawmakers he found that the bottles of 10-unit Hep-Lock and 10,000-unit heparin were "virtually indistinguishable." Both drugs are manufactured by Baxter Healthcare.

He also learned that the labels' similarity led to an overdose of infants at an Indianapolis, Indiana, hospital in 2006. Three babies died and three were injured. Four months after that incident, he said, Baxter sent a warning to hospitals regarding the potential for mistakes. Seven months after that, Baxter received permission to change the labels. However, Quaid said, Baxter failed to recall the previous bottles that were in hospitals.

To read the whole article, click the title below:

ACTOR TELLS HOUSE PANEL OF NEWBORN TWINS' OVERDOSE

I applaud Dennis Quaid for refusing to remain silent about this HUGE problem. Pharmaceutical companies need to take responsibility for their actions. Maybe this case, and Quaid's celebrity, will shine a much needed light on the errors of Big Pharma. I just hate this had to come as a result of a near death experience from newborn twins.