GERMAN police are investigating two pharmacy employees in relation to a negligent homicide case in the city of Cologne.
A 28-year-old mother-to-be, and her unborn child, died after taking a glucose solution prepared in the Heilig-Geist-Apotheke, or Holy Spirit Pharmacy, which was supposed to be for a standard diabetes test (PD 30 Sep).
Senior Public Prosecutor, Ulrich Bremer, noted that the glucose was stored in a similar container to the toxic substance, lidocaine hydrochloride, which was found to have contaminated the compounded solution.
"The accused have given information about their activities and the organisational procedures in the pharmacy in very extensive interrogations," Bremer said.
"There is no evidence that leads in the direction of intent."
The State of North Rhine Westphalia and Regional Council closed the pharmacy, and two other stores managed by the same operator, in response to the deaths.
However, the stores have been allowed to reopen, but have been prohibited from dispensing medicines compounded in the pharmacies, by the German Ministry of Health.
Bremer said the ban will remain in place until measures have been taken to prevent such contamination in the future.
A second woman was reportedly hospitalised after taking the product, but was released the following day.
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