EVIDENCE LIBRARY
Healthcare-Worker Overdose Review Identified Midazolam in a Small Coroner-Reported Series
A mixed quantitative and thematic review found hospital-only medicines prominently represented in reported healthcare-worker deaths. Voluntary reporting prevents interpreting its counts as occupational mortality rates.
A mixed quantitative and thematic review found hospital-only medicines prominently represented in reported healthcare-worker deaths. Voluntary reporting prevents interpreting its counts as occupational mortality rates.
The cases examined
Researchers identified fifty-eight deaths among people working, studying, or previously employed in healthcare in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during 2000–2022. Doctors were the largest represented professional group.
Midazolam featured in six cases. Other hospital medicines and opioids were also identified. Themes included workplace access, clinical skills, private prescriptions, mental-health difficulties, chronic pain, and self-medication.
Missing denominators and reports
The reporting program received voluntary coroner submissions, and occupation had to be mentioned for case identification. Some deaths were therefore likely missed. The study did not supply a complete workforce denominator by profession.
Being represented in the series does not establish a higher individual occupational risk or prove that workplace access caused a particular death. Qualitative themes identify recurring circumstances rather than measured causal effects.
Practical interpretation
The paper can inform questions about access, support, and medication history. It cannot show that midazolam alone caused every death in which it featured or estimate the proportion of healthcare workers who misuse it. Individual conclusions require the full investigation, toxicology, administration history, and circumstances.
Source paper
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC12529239.