In a series of 6,199 consecutively monitored medical patients, deaths due to drugs administered in hospitals was recorded in 27 cases (0.44%). Most of the fatalities were attributed to commonly used drugs. Hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema, attributed, respectively, to potassium supplements and parenterally administered fluid therapy, were particularly prominent. Other drug-attributed mechanisms which resulted in death were depression of the central nervous system, superinfection, hemorrhage, cardiorespiratory complications, dehydration and electrolyte depletion, hypoglycemia, anaphylaxis, liver failure, perforated duodenal ulcer, and hypercalcemia.