Common Sense Lacking at Harvard Med School?


Each year 90,000 patients die due to medical negligence, some as simple as not washing hands between patients. If professionals are that sloppy what is to be expected of super intelligent Harvard students who seldom have any common sense?

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20091025poisoning_at_harvard_6_lab_workers_sickened_by_coffee/

Poisoning at Harvard
6 lab workers sickened by coffee
By Adam Smith and O’Ryan Johnson
Boston Herald
Sunday, October 25, 2009

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http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1207099

Java drinkers detail ordeal
By Adam Smith
Boston Herald
Sunday, October 25, 2009

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http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20091026experts_discount_accident_theory_in_harvard_coffee_poisoning/

Experts discount ‘accident’ theory in Harvard coffee poisoning
By Adam Smith and Jessica Van Sack
Boston Herald
Monday, October 26, 2009

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A Message to the HMS Community Regarding the Incident at NRB

As you may be aware, we have been investigating an incident that occurred on August 26, 2009, when six members of our community were seen in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center emergency room after drinking coffee from the same single serve, manual-fill coffee machine located in an open common area on the eighth floor of the HMS New Research Building (NRB). All reported similar symptoms. Five employees were treated and released that day; one was held overnight and released the next morning.

Since late August, an HMS leadership team has been working closely with Harvard University Police Department and a team of health and safety experts on an extensive investigation of the incident. We also are in contact with the Boston Public Health Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

While we do not yet know how this incident occurred, we have recently learned that sodium azide, a preservative commonly used in laboratories, was present in the coffee consumed by the six employees. As the investigation continues, we are being prudent and taking additional precautionary measures to ensure the well being of our community.

As always, we are mindful of the need to be diligent about laboratory safety and security and the importance of proper management of laboratory chemicals. Last year we convened a task force to make recommendations that will further promote the security and safety of laboratories throughout HMS, and we are now in the process of implementing a number of these recommendations, which include the following:

•Safety professionals will be meeting with laboratory representatives to discuss ways to enhance the best practices already in place throughout HMS for chemical usage and management.

•We are in the process of installing additional security cameras throughout our buildings, and we are strengthening the security systems that manage access to the laboratories during both normal business hours and off hours.

HMS leadership is committed to doing everything possible to understand what may have occurred, and we will notify you at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. In the interim, if you have any questions or information, please contact Rick Shea at Richard_Shea@hms.harvard.edu.

Sincerely,

Daniel G. Ennis
Executive Dean for Administration

Richard M. Shea
Associate Dean for Physical Planning and Facilities