[Responsibility due to medication errors in France: a study based on SHAM insurance data]. / Responsabilité liée aux erreurs médicamenteuses : données SHAM.

PURPOSE: The safe medication practices at the hospital constitute a major public health problem. Drug supply chain is a complex process, potentially source of errors and damages for the patient. SHAM insurances are the biggest French provider of medical liability insurances and a relevant source of data on the health care complications. METHODS: The main objective of the study was to analyze the type and cause of medication errors declared to SHAM and having led to a conviction by a court. We did a retrospective study on insurance claims provided by SHAM insurances with a medication error and leading to a condemnation over a 6-year period (between 2005 and 2010). RESULTS: Thirty-one cases were analysed, 21 for scheduled activity and 10 for emergency activity. Consequences of claims were mostly serious (12 deaths, 14 serious complications, 5 simple complications). The types of medication errors were a drug monitoring error (11 cases), an administration error (5 cases), an overdose (6 cases), an allergy (4 cases), a contraindication (3 cases) and an omission (2 cases). Intravenous route of administration was involved in 19 of 31 cases (61%). The causes identified by the court expert were an error related to service organization (11), an error related to medical practice (11) or nursing practice (13). Only one claim was due to the hospital pharmacy. CONCLUSION: The claim related to drug supply chain is infrequent but potentially serious. These data should help strengthen quality approach in risk management.

[Xanthine urinary calculus in a patient with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Apropos of a case]. / Calcul urinaire de xanthine chez un patient porteur d'un syndrome de Lesh Nyhan. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of xanthine stones in a 12-year-old child with Lesh Nyhan syndrome treated by allopurinol at the dose of 10 mg/kg/24 hours. This type of urinary stone is unusual and its structure was confirmed by spectrophotometric analysis. This type of stone, in the context of Lesh Nyhan syndrome, suggests the presence of allopurinol treatment. Discontinuation of this treatment prevents recurrence of xanthine stones.