Nurse injects lethal dose of coffee and milk into patient's IV drip

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An 80-year-old patient in a Rio de Janeiro clinic died after a student nurse accidentally injected coffee into her veins,  Medical Daily reported.  The nurse, 23-year-old Rejane Moreira Telles, defended her mistake in a television interview, saying "anyone can get confused."

Telles had only three days of experience at the clinic before the incident.  She accidentally administered an intravenous drip filled with coffee and milk to Palmerina Pires Riberio, who died hours after the fluid was injected in her body.

According to Medical Daily, Telles told reporters she knew of the risks before administering the feed.  However, she claimed she hadn't been trained in the procedure.

"As they [the feed and blood drips] were next to each other, anyone can get confused," Telles told Brazilian TV Globo's Fantastico.  "I injected the coffee, and I put it in the wrong place."

Telles, two nurses and another student have been indicted for manslaughter.  Doctors told Globo's Fantastico that through the IV feed, the coffee would have traveled straight to Ribeiro's heart and lungs.

Ribeiro's daughter, Loreni Ribeiro, said she witnessed the incident.

"I saw my mother was agitated, she opened her mouth, and this youngster put coffee with milk into the veins of my mother.  Half a glass," Loreni said.

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