This blog post is a continuation from our post earlier in the week based on a New York Times article regarding hospital use of look-alike tubes in medical procedures, which are killing patients.

International medical standards groups have been seeking consensus on specific designs on how tubes for different bodily functions should differ, however, the group has been trying to coordinate this for years and complete recommendations are estimated to take even more time. Some manufacturers have used colors to distinguish different tube functions, but with every company using it's own coloring method its just adding to the confusion. Ultimately, continuing to place hospitals at risk for medical malpractice and negligence suits.

Advocates in California helped to pass legislation in 2008 that mandated that feeding tubes no longer be compatible with tubes that enter through the skin or veins by 2011. However, in 2009, a medical trade organization successfully pushed legislation delaying this bill's effect until 2013 or 2014 or until the international standards group reaches a decision. Until then, The F.D.A. has begun reviewing if feeding tubes should be declared fundamentally unsafe.

In addition to the fatal case detailed in our previous post, another case highlights the danger of tube mix-ups. A premature infant in 2006 was killed when a nurse mistakenly connected a bag of breast milk to an intravenous tube, which caused the infant "to form tiny blood clots throughout their body, bleed profusely and suffer seizures for months following and leading up to their death."

Many believe this problem will continue to make hospitals liable for patient deaths until solid regulation is passed and enforced.

Source: New York Times "U.S. Inaction Lets Look-Alike Tubes Kill Patients" 08/20/2010