Patient given chemotherapy drug overdose may be discharged next week
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 November 2009 0107 hrs

	Photos  of

SINGAPORE: A cancer patient who was accidentally given an overdose of chemotherapy drugs may be discharged from hospital early next week.

51-year-old Mrs L. K. Ng was given three days' worth of drugs in just three hours on 6 November because her infusion pump was wrongly calibrated.

Giving an update on her condition, Associate Professor Tan Kok Hian, clinical director of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said Mrs Ng is in a stable condition.

A second patient, Mrs Yip Poh Hung, 44, is also in stable condition. She was given five days' worth of chemotherapy in just five hours.

Her case is more critical because the overdose could lead to organ damage, but doctors have administered an antidote which they say could counter the toxicity of the drugs.

The hospital said the two pharmacists who calibrated the infusion pumps are assisting with investigations. Any disciplinary action taken will depend on the results of the investigations.

- CNA/ir