(Editor’s note: I grew up minutes from this school in Indiana. I can’t imagine how concerned these parents and children must be following this unfortunate incident.)
More than a dozen Indiana students were sent to the hospital after being given the wrong shot at Lawrence Township school on Monday.
The school district said sixteen students were undergoing a TB screening at McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology when medical staff from Community Health Network gave them a shot of insulin instead.
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According to the school district, parents were notified, and the students were taken to area hospitals for observation. McKenzie staff and school personnel went with them.
Lucille Knowles said her daughter, who was one of the students mistakenly given the insulin shot, texted her several pictures of a red bump on her arm. She was taken to Community East for five hours of observation and blood sugar testing. She complained of feeling cold and shaky. Knowles added:
“She’s scared, she really is. And I was too. You have to know what you’re doing. You’ve got people’s lives in your hands. Because they could have died, my daughter could have died. So yes, I’m very angry.”
“I just want to know how did this happen, why did you not pay attention. You did 16 kids, when you got to your 16th child, that’s when you realized it was a mistake.”1
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A non-diabetic person who is given a shot of insulin can become hypoglycemic, where the blood sugar drops abnormally. John Kunzer, President of Community Physician Network, said:
“The worst case would be people can get shaky, sweaty, they can pass out, they can have seizures. And sometimes, if it got really low, it could be serious. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen in healthcare. And this individual disclosed it and we took immediate action to ensure the safety of the children.”1
Lawrence Township school said in a statement:
“We are working closely with Community Health Network to determine the cause of the error; and to evaluate processes as needed. The MSD of Lawrence Township has a long-standing and strong partnership with Community Health Network. We have full confidence that the events of today are isolated in nature and will be addressed swiftly by the Community Health Network.”1
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Part of a statement from Community Health Network said:
“Community Health Network is committed to patient safety. We value our relationships and partnerships and consider it a privilege to partner with schools including MSD of Lawrence Township. We are working closely with MSD of Lawrence Township to determine the cause of the error and to evaluate processes. The safety of students in our care is a top priority.”1
According to Kunzer, all sixteen of the students who were given the wrong shot were in good condition by Monday afternoon. He said some are already home with their parents and the rest should be able to go home by this evening.
