Prosecutor reviewing fever death at Pennsylvania hospital

HERSHEY, Pa. – A Pennsylvania prosecutor is reviewing the death of a 6-year-old boy whose temperature topped 107 degrees (41.7 Celsius) while he was under a special heating blanket at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in January.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health last week announced it cited the hospital, saying there are no records that the boy’s temperature was taken during a 10-hour period, and because the hospital didn’t report the “serious event” until 77 days later. Such incidents are supposed to be reported within 24 hours.

The hospital has launched its own investigation and taken corrective steps, but Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico wants to review the incident. He stopped short of calling that a full-blown investigation.

The boy, who had other health issues, had a below-normal temperature and was put under the blanket to raise his temperature.