Coroner investigates hospital mistake causing baby's death

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Children's Hospital has told the Hamilton County Coroner's office that a baby boy having open heart surgery last month, died after alcohol was put in his IV instead of saline solution.

The coroner's office is now investigating the 7-month-old's death.

Coroner Dr. O'dell Owens says Children's Hospital was very upfront about what happened during open heart surgery for 7-month-old Tressel Meinardi from Richmond, Ind.

When the hospital reported the baby boy had died, it told the Coroner's office that the baby's body had been flushed with alcohol, during surgery, when it should have been flushed with a saline solution.

Within hours, the 7 month old's organs started to fail.

As the coroner's office continues it's investigation, Children's hospital has indicated it is also searching for answers.

Dr. Owens says he's heard from hospital administrators that they want to know why an alcohol IV was given to the baby boy instead of the standard saline.

Reports say that Children's Hospital President Michael Fisher has already sent a memo through the hospital saying: "Where ever there has been an error, we accept responsibility, admit the error, apologize for it and explain what happened."

Tressel's death certificate currently lists "multiple organ failure - natural causes" as the cause of death, but that could change depending on what the Coroner's office investigation finds.

Since Tressel Meinardi died on Aug. 21, services have already been held for him in Richmond, Indiana.

Children's Hospital has told reporters it can't comment on the case because of federal privacy laws.