Libby Zion

Libby Zion (November 30, 1965 – March 5, 1984) died at age 18 shortly after being admitted to New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center with a high fever.

Biography
She was born in 1965 to New York City journalist Sidney Zion and publishing executive, Elsa H. Zion. She had two siblings, Adam Zion and Jed Zion.

Death
She died from complications of Serotonin syndrome, which was an iatrogenic effect of the combination of meperidine and phenelzine. Although meperidine is for moderate pain and phenelzine is an MAOI both are in the class of drugs which may cause the potentially fatal Serotonin Syndrome. A grand jury determined that the long hours of often unsupervised interns and residents contributed to her death. While an appeals court exonerated the doctors, the subsequent investigation led New York State to form the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Emergency Services, more commonly known as the Bell Commission. This committee developed a series of regulations that addressed several patient care issues, including restraint usage, medication systems, and resident work hours.

One aspect of these regulations is commonly referred to in the medical community as "the Libby Zion Law" and "the Libby Law," limiting resident working hours, and requiring physician supervision. A follow-up study prompted the New York State Department of Health to crack down on violating hospitals.

Eventually the report led to reforms in the number of hours residents could work and more required oversight of their care by accredited physicians, which have since been adopted nationwide.

Legacy
At the time of her death, she attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she is memorialized with the "Libby Zion Award for Dramatic Excellence."