State investigators have found that inadequate procedures at Seattle Children's may have contributed to the death of a baby being transferred from another hospital to Children's in September. The newborn was given four medications by a nurse on the transport crew from Children's who did not have a physician's order, as required by law. The investigation also found that the nurse later falsified the medical record to show orders that had in fact not been given. As part of the investigation, the state Department of Health also looked at 12 patients who were being prepared for transfer to Children's in the same month. In all 12 cases, investigators said, the hospital did not ensure that proper authorization was obtained for medications given to the patients. Seattle Children's officials, in a statement, said they "strongly disagree" with the Health Department's characterization of the patient's cause of death.
