Shortages of some 150 crucial medicines have killed at least three hospital patients, according to reports from a patient safety group.
One of the hospital drugs in shortage is morphine, and two patients died of an overdose when hospitals substituted a more powerful drug instead, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).
Another patient died when doctors had to use diluted epinephrine, which is also in short supply.
via pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com
Not a happy holiday story - there are some serious shortages of about 150 different medicines. I took a look at the list of medicines and there are at least a few that could be used for Crohn's patients, including one form of steroid Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate.
This brings up a larger question for me - how are people with rare diseases protected when drug companies are developing and manufacturing drugs for profit?
