Pharmacy homicide?

AUTHORITIES in Cologne, Germany, have closed three pharmacies and are conducting a homicide investigation after a pregnant woman died having consumed a commonly used solution that was prepared in-store.

The 28-year-old died of multiple organ failure within hours of consuming the mixture, while doctors conducted an unsuccessful emergency caesarean section in an effort to save the baby.

Public prosecutor, Ulrich Bremer, revealed “a toxic substance which is available in pharmacies, but which has absolutely no place in the mixture”, was found in the products container.

TheLocal.de, an English language news website, reported that the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry for Health had closed the HeiligGeist-Apotheke, where the product was sold, the Contezen-Apotheke and the Apotheke am Bilderstockchen, as a preventative health measure, while the investigation continues.

Patients who have purchased glucose-containing products from the pharmacy have been asked to hand it over to their nearest police station.

Heilig-Geist-Apotheke owner, Till Fuxius, said he was “stunned” by the event, adding, “I’m a witness, not the accused”.

Investigators have been working alongside the homicide department to establish how the contamination happened, and to determine whether it was “a negligent killing”, or a deliberate act.

“We must clarify who worked where and when? Who was allowed to work with the substances,” Bremer said.

At least one other woman who was prescribed the same solution was reported to have also experienced complications, but stopped taking it before consuming the entire preparation.