Hospital impaling death blamed on lack of information

Death at Boston Pilgrim Hospital would have been less likely if equipment manufacturer had issued a safety notice, jury told


A safety manager at a U.K.'s Lincolnshire hospital trust, which is on trial following a patient death, told a jury that the fatality would have been less likely if the manufacturer had issued a safety notice following a previous incident, according to an article on the Boston Standard website.
 
An incident had previously taken place at a hospital in Leicester involving an identical lifting hoist. 
 
The Leicester incident occurred in 2007, five years before an incident at Boston Pilgrim Hospital, in which a patient died from internal injuries caused when he was impaled on part of a lifting hoist which was being used to assist him. 
 
The patient fell onto a protruding metal post while being aided by the hoist. The prosecution allege that hospital staff were not adequately trained or supervised in the use of the hoist and had removed a knee support pad which should have remained in place. 
 
 
 
 


May 15, 2017


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Design Standards as Strategic Assets

Done correctly, standards benefit healthcare environments, staff, patients and families.


Rising Violence is Exposing Gaps in Hospital Security

Security experts outline how healthcare facilities can move beyond traditional security to more proactive and coordinated systems.


Murray County Medical Center Reports Data Security Incident

MCMC has implemented several measures to enhance its security posture and reduce the risk of similar future incidents.


Probiotic Cleaning: A Complementary Strategy for Safer Hospital Floors

Managers seeking more resilient approaches to environmental hygiene are turning to probiotic systems to supplement traditional disinfection.


VITAS Healthcare Breaks Ground on New Inpatient Hospice Center in Florida

The 14,000-square-foot VITAS inpatient hospice center will open in 2027 and serve 500+ patients annually.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.