admin @ Tue, 2005-10-25 09:46
His family hit out after the former steel boss was discharged from the Northern General Hospital after treatment for a fall.
An inquest heard how the drugs were mixed up during the journey from the pharmacy to the hospital ward.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have since changed procedures. Medication is now double-checked before a patient is discharged, and sealable drug bags have been introduced.
John Amiry, aged 54, said "The family feel that this tragedy might have been averted and are anxious to highlight the many failings so that others may not suffer the fate of our father."
Daughters Helen Hilton, 57, of Twentywell Lane, Totley, and Louise Murdoch, 51, of Greystones, are also said to be distraught.
John said: "I think the verdict should have been that my father died of sheer bad luck. Bad luck that he was discharged from hospital that mixed up drugs.
"Bad luck that he and his family never considered that mistakes could be made and didn't check the medicine labels properly.
"Bad luck his doctor became aware of the possibility of error and didn't mention this to anyone. Bad luck that the erroneous drugs were lethal to him."
The drugs should have been checked when he was discharged, but were not because of a mix-up between ward staff and the Discharge Lounge. Mr Amiry was given Metformin and Fusidic Acid, an antibiotic, instead of his prescription.
He took all the medication, although the names of the other patients were on the medication.
Coroner Chris Dorries said the names were in very small print: "It is not the least surprising that the error went undiscovered by Mr Amiry and his family."
Mr Dorries recorded a narrative verdict. He said: "Mr Amiry died on the 18th October 2004 as a consequence of taking Fusidic Acid tablets that had been given to him in error when he was discharged."
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