I was working in a county jail as a medic. I worked night shift passing meds, doing assessments and doing withdrawal watch.

Pretty basic, easy but interesting.

You walked into a cell grouping told the officer who you needed and poof they walk you to the correct cell. Patient takes meds, you check mouth, take VS if needed, rinse and repeat.

I get down to segregation (isolation) and it's going like always no issues. I get back to med office, begin cleaning up and the phone rings.

The officer says, "John Doe wants his meds" I double check the MAR and the envelope used for passing the meds and inform them that he's had his meds. He then asks the most bizarre question. "was he white or black?"

John Doe (white guy) swallowed meds he's never taken before without a single issue. John Doe (black guy) got his meds asap. I then got the pleasure of talking to a LOT of people because a med error in there is a whole lot of paperwork, investigation and documentation.

The fun bit? These guys were TWO DOORS APART! The CO knew this but didn't ask me which one. Even a name check would not have helped. (we were told not to do it the co was confirming identity in this situation)

The fault was found with whomever assigned cells. A whole new p&p had to be created to keep same /similar names off of the same wings to prevent it in the future.

There was a fun part. See the medications the guy swallowed without batting an eye were low doses but the officers asked me worst case scenario. I listed everything that could happen if it had been the highest dose of each! As I listed each side effect the guy became more pale as I went. He ended up needing to sit down. When I was finished the CO asked "why would you swallow pills you'd never taken before?" his reply "well I thought they were fun drugs" ffs I guarantee that he would (hopefully sheesh) not do that again! Ha!