Dana-Farber Cancer Institute



Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Introduction

An issue that spreads fear among the people was the death of Betsy Lehman. She was 39 years old lady. She was a mother of two children and a wife too. She was also a reporter of Boston Globe for its health reporting section. Lehman was diagnosed for breast cancer in the month of September in 1993. As a result of diagnose, she admitted to a well known institute named Dana-Farber Cancer Institute located in Boston on 14th November, 1994. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is considered as a one of the comprehensive and nation's premier cancer hospitals, well-known for its achievement in treating difficult and complicated cases as well as for its study and investigation into the cures and causes of cancer. During her treatment, she expired as a result of over dose of medicine which was considered as a vital medication error (Lucian Leape, 1999).

Problem Analysis

Treatment of Lehman involved the transplantation of bone marrow. It was claimed that the reason of her death was over dose which was given to her during her treatment for the breast cancer. On the other hand, the hospital says that the reason of such high dose chemotherapy was to kill the tumor cells; however, it kills well bone marrow too. The healthy or well bone marrow as a result, was removed with held in set aside prior to a high dose of chemotherapy and after that re-injected subsequent to the chemotherapy. It was said that the treatment utilized was an extremely high dose as compare to a general chemotherapy agent. The dose of this treatment was much high that usual bone marrow surely would be killed. Other than the general consequences of such a high dose is hair loss as well as gastrointestinal upset. The over dose cyclophosphamide ...