A nurse is charged in Dane County with neglect in the death of a teenage patient. 16-year-old Jasmine Gant died in July at Saint Mary's
Hospital after she was injected intravenously with an epidural
anesthetic.
Nurse Julie Thao of Belleville allegedly injected the epidural anesthetic, thinking it was a prescribed dose of penicillin.
Gant died within an hour after the intravenous injection.
Thao faces a count of neglect of a patient causing great bodily harm, carrying a maximum prison sentence of six years upon conviction. A criminal complaint alleges Thao failed to follow nearly every safeguard put in place to prevent medication errors at St. Mary's.
Officials at the Wisconsin Hospital Association say the Felony charge is too harsh and they're worried the stiff penalty will discourage people from pursuing jobs in the medical field.
"That is really our concern," said Dana Richardson, Wisconsin Hospital Association. "We need to bring the brightest and the best people into health care to ensure that our current and future health care needs can be met."
Gant was hospitalized to give birth. Her son was delivered successfully by Cesarean section. Gant had a strep infection and her doctor had ordered penicillin to be administered to prevent infection of the baby.
AP
