Patient Death During California Nurse Labor Dispute Probed

Authorities are investigating a patient’s death at an Oakland hospital after what’s being described as a “medical error” by a replacement nurse hired during a labor dispute.

Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson says the nurse at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center gave the patient what she termed a “non-prescribed dosage of a medication.”

Watson did not release additional details, but said the department is investigating.

Thousands of nurses across California went on strike for one day Thursday, but many were locked out when they tried to return to work Friday.

The patient, who died Saturday morning, had been receiving treatment at the hospital since July.

No details about the patient or the nurse have been released, but the Oakland Tribune reports that the patient was a 66-year-old Oakland resident.