Doctor Dismissed After Prescribing Wrong Medication in Sveg, Sweden
Locum doctor in Sveg dismissed for prescribing incorrect medication, causing patient harm.
Key Points
- • A locum doctor prescribed incorrect medication to a 77-year-old patient, causing serious health complications.
- • The health center decided not to renew the doctor's contract following the incident.
- • The doctor admitted to not reviewing the patient's medical history before the prescription.
- • Ivo is investigating the case for potential professional misconduct.
A locum doctor in Sveg, Sweden, has been dismissed from his position after prescribing incorrect medication that resulted in life-threatening health complications for a 77-year-old patient, Catharina Ek. The health center, Nära Vård Härjedalen, decided not to renew the doctor’s contract following the serious oversight, which was described as a significant failure in professional conduct.
The incident came to light when the patient experienced severe health issues after being prescribed Arcoxia, a medication that was unsuitable given her medical history. In a statement to the Health and Care Inspectorate (Ivo), the doctor admitted he failed to review the patient’s medical records before making the prescription, acknowledging that this contributed to her deteriorating health.
The operations manager for the health center, Lina Ideborg, confirmed the decision to terminate the doctor’s employment, which occurred in April, although the doctor has reportedly secured a new assignment within the regional healthcare system. This raises questions about accountability and oversight in medical practices, especially following a serious error.
As of now, the investigation by Ivo remains ongoing to assess whether professional misconduct occurred. The doctor has not commented further on the situation, contending that he believes he did not act improperly and expressing a desire to continue his medical career.