Dennis Quaid with wife KimberleyCedars-Sinai Medical Center have been been formerly criticised for the drug mix-up that injured three newborn babies, including Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins.

The Quaid twins were twice given massive overdoses of the blood thinner Heparin - 10000 units a time rather than the intended 10 units - and began “bleeding out” before the problem was discovered.

The problem is said to have arisen after similar labelling on the two vials caused incorrect placement in the drug cabinet and administering nurses failed to double check the dosage before injecting the drug.

The California Department of Public Health has now said the hospital failed to “adhere to established policies and procedures for safe medication use … These violations caused, or were likely to cause, serious injury or death to the patients who received the wrong medication.”

The hospital has admitted the incident was a “preventable error” and cooperated in the investigation but is still expected to be fined by the state regulators.

Chief medical officer Dr Michael L Langberg told the Los Angeles Times: “While this is a rare event, we are pleased that the [public health department] shares our view that it is an important opportunity for the entire institution to explore any and all ways we can further improve medication safety. Each of us is personally responsible for patient safety.”