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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2006;295:2347.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

To help prevent deaths and injuries from medical gas mix-ups and contamination, the Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule to make the contents of medical gas containers more readily identifiable.

Mix-ups of medical gases (such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen) have included mistaken administration of industrial gas to patients and contamination of medical gas cylinders with residues of industrial cleaning solvents. Between 1996 and 2006, the agency received reports of medical gas mix-ups that led to at least 8 deaths and 18 serious injuries.

Under the regulation, portable cryogenic containers and high-pressure cylinders must have gas use outlet connections that cannot be readily removed; be identified by labels that wrap all the way around the tops of the containers; be color-coded; and be dedicated to medical use and not converted from industrial use.

Information on submitting public comments on the proposed rule can be . . . [Full Text of this Article]