NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — New details as a former Vanderbilt nurse faces criminal charges for a deadly drug mix-up. Testimony on the second day of the Radonda Watt massacre incorporated more scientific details into the fatal error and how it became a criminal investigation.
TBI Special Agent Romana Smith read parts of a letter from the state health department before TBI got involved.
“The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the result. This is not a disciplinary action and no record of it will appear on your license or file,” the letter said, adding that no further action is required from WAT.
Agent Smith said additional information was later developed following the original investigation that led to a review of the case.
"Some lawyers saw it and reviewed it and thought maybe it needed to be looked at again, we have a person who died as a result of a very strong drug that was given as a drug error. Medication errors, Although they are called errors, they can still be significant if not fatal implications," Smith said.
Vaut said she is "distracted" when a safety feature on an automated drug dispenser is overridden, failing to catch a number of red flags when she takes the medicine and gives it to the patient.
The criminal charges came as a surprise to nurses across the country, with many pointing to systemic problems.