Marijuana-laced baked goods sicken employees of N.C. hospital
Hospital Safety Insider, April 5, 2017
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Six employees of Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville, N.C., fell ill last month after eating cannabis-laced baked goods delivered to the hospital’s Emergency Department by one of their coworkers.
Authorities described the incident as accidental after determining that the employee who brought the cookies and muffins to work did so without knowing they contained the illegal substance, the Statesville Record & Landmark reported. Even so, the case highlights how easily—and, at times, unwittingly—human error can endanger the safety of healthcare personnel and their patients.
Hospital spokeswoman Janie Stikeleather was quick to note that this mishap did not impact patient care, thanks to proper oversight.
“The department director recognized the situation and took action to alert authorities and treat the affected employees,” Stikeleather said Wednesday in a statement regarding the March 19 incident.
“We are committed to providing patients with safe care and we appreciate the timely action of our director to manage the situation,” she added.
The sweet treats in question were made by a family member of the worker who delivered them to the hospital, WSOC-TV reported, citing investigators. The goodies were not intended for consumption by hospital staff.
Although marijuana remains illegal under North Carolina law, no one is expected to face criminal charges for this incident. When police tracked down the source of the treats, they reportedly found no drugs in the baker’s possession, which would make it quite difficult to prove a charge in court.
Statesville police and the Iredell County District Attorney’s Office did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment.
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