State officials are once again investigating Stony Brook Hospital after another child died unexpectedly.

Seven-year-old Tyler Poole, of West Islip, died during a routine surgery last month. Poole suffered from muscular dystrophy, but officials say his condition did not contribute to his death. It marked the second time in 44 days that a child died suddenly on the operating table. One-year-old Amy Martin died on May 13.

The state Health Department sanctioned the hospital in 2002 after 6-day-old Gianni Vargas received a lethal overdose of potassium chloride. Another baby nearly died in 1995 after she was given 10 times the proper dose of morphine. Misplaced decimal points were blamed in both cases. Stony Brook surgeon Dr. Irvin Krukenkamp, who is suing the hospital, says unnecessary risks are being taken with patients? lives.

Hospital officials say patient safety is paramount and point out that the hospital-wide mortality rate is significantly below the average for a consortium of academic medical centers. Krukenkamp says a better than average death rate is insignificant if the deaths that do occur are preventable.

Related Information: Stony Brook University Hospital under microscope after child dies