Nurse keeps license after abortion mix-up

BIRMINGHAM, England, July 19 (UPI) -- A British woman has been approved to keep working as a nurse, even after she administered a chemical abortion to the incorrect patient, officials said.

Ann Downer, 44, administered Misoprostol to a patient who went to the Calthorpe Clinic in Birmingham, England, in October 2006, to have a consultation. The incident resulted from confusion regarding patient names, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

The patient hadn't said she wanted an abortion but Downer administered the pregnancy termination drug to her, the newspaper said.

"The registrant failed to carry out proper identity checks, and as such did not realize the treatment was being given to the wrong patient," said Nailah Mears of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The newspaper said when clinic workers realized the mix-up took place the woman was asked to return to the clinic. She was said to be "in pain."

Doctors then suggested she terminate her pregnancy surgically.

A caution will be placed on Downer's record for three years, but she will be allowed to continue nursing, the Telegraph said.