Medical misfortune

With the recent deaths of eight patients who were given nitrous oxide, a common anesthetic gas, instead of oxygen in a southern Italian hospital, the Italian public health system has yet another medical tragedy with which to contend. An investigative committee appointed by Puglia’s regional government is examining clinical data at Castellaneta Hospital, where 17 people are currently under investigation. Suspects include several public health officials, three doctors, the engineer who designed the gas system and the head of Ossitalia, the company that fitted the pipes to external gas tanks.