Chicago police probe insulin deaths

Chicago -- Police in Chicago are investigating whether a series of hospital insulin overdoses might have been intentional.

University of Chicago Hospitals have asked police to help them determine who or what caused the unexplained increases in insulin that apparently killed one patient and left another in a coma, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Investigators also are looking into the death of another woman who suffered from symptoms consistent with a sharp increase in insulin, although blood tests are not yet complete.

All three patients were elderly women treated in the same wing of the hospital. They fell ill between May 7 and June 5, and none had been prescribed insulin or was suffering from diabetes.

Despite the police probe, hospital officials said they have not ruled out medication error, laboratory error related to serum insulin levels or product integrity of medications as causes for the spikes in insulin levels.

They also have tightened control of supplies of the hormone as a precaution since the incidents.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.