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| Pill Switch Hospitalizes Three Inmates |
| By Boston Herald |
| Published: 09/25/2001 |
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Three Suffolk County House of Correction inmates were hospitalized last night after medical staff contracted by the sheriff's department confused their antiviral pills with antidepressants, a prison spokesman said. All three are supposed to take Viracept, an ingredient of the AIDS 'cocktail'' prescribed to prolong the life of people infected with the HIV virus. Instead, medics administered the antidepressant Elavil, resulting in Shawn Fitzpatrick, 29, and Thomas Burke, 44, slipping into unconsciousness and a third inmate, Benjamin Neal, 34, having a seizure. Rick Lombardi, spokesman for Sheriff Richard J. Rouse, said the mix-up by employees of Correctional Medical Services was apparently accidental. 'Both medications are similar in size, shape and color,'' he said. Two other inmates were mistakenly medicated with the antidepressant yesterday morning, but did not have an adverse reaction, he said. Fitzpatrick, who is serving time for mayhem and Burke, incarcerated for aggravated assault, were in serious condition last night, Lombardi said. Neal, jailed for assault and battery and resisting arrest, was said to be stable. Correctional Medical Services of Dedham, Mass. is eight months into a three-year contract with the sheriff's department, Lombardi said. A spokesperson could not be reached for comment last night. 'We're still conducting an investigation,'' Lombardi said. 'I'm sure there's going to be some questions about liability, but right now we just want to make sure (the inmates) are OK.'' |
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