Medics resort to expired drugs (D.C. Paramedics)

The Washington Times ^ | 6-9-05 | Matthew Cella

[JZelle]

D.C. paramedics say their supervisors directed them to use expired medications this month because fresh supplies were unavailable. The medications included such lifesaving drugs as epinephrine, which is used to treat asthmatics and allergic reactions, and nitroglycerin, which is used for heart-attack victims. "Many of the individuals were simply told to disregard the June 1 expiration date and use them through the end of the month," said Kenneth Lyons, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3721, which represents the city's medics.

[JZelle]

The hijinks just never end!!

[68skylark]

This sounds like something from a thrid-world country.

[George Smiley]

It's a non-story.

Meds are good for at least one year past the ex date printed on them.

[Yo-Yo]

Yawn. June 1 or June 30, big deal.

[andyk]

Meds are good for at least one year past the ex date printed on them.

I'm not sure if it's a question of whether they're good or not (I don't think most meds ever really go bad). I think the expiration dates are based on the half-life of the products in question, so the real concern is the effectiveness of the med.

[Moose4]

This sounds like something from a thrid-world country.

It's Washington, DC. Same thing. This is the city that once told its city workers to bring their own toilet paper to work because the janitorial supply company that stocked City Hall refused to work with them any more. The city was months behind on their bills at the time.

And these fools want to be a state? Never. They're barely this side of Zimbabwe, much less an American state.

}:-)4

[Polyxene]

Sometimes I think DC IS a third-world country! However, it does have the highest per pupil spending in the country! (and the lowest performance) I guess the DC paramedics didn't get in line when they were throwing money up in the air!

[blau993]

The District of Columbia, sad to say, IS a third world country.

[doberville]

Epinephrine has a shelf life of 18 months. It loses potency rapidly after that. Hmmmm.

[WideGlide]

It's okay to use outdated drugs in DC because most of the gravely ill folks have waited years to treat obvious ailments anyway.

[andyk]

Epinephrine has a shelf life of 18 months. It loses potency rapidly after that.

Yep.

[verity]

These are not hi-jinks. It is a continuing manifestation of incompetence and corruption.