A programmed infusion rate, an alert and the amount actually delivered are distinct records. A review of smart syringe pumps used in dental sedation explains the difference between soft alerts and hard limits in a drug library.
The review explains that a soft alert can be overridden by the operator, allowing the infusion to continue. A hard limit blocks the setting unless the relevant library parameters are changed. The review also describes how a pump can be operated using a volume rate without applying the protections of a drug-library entry. The exact behavior depends on the pump and its configuration.
For a forensic reconstruction, compare the programmed rate, drug concentration, event history, start and stop times, and medication administration record. A volume rate cannot supply a mass dose without the solution concentration and duration. A soft alert alone cannot establish whether anyone overrode it or how much drug reached the patient.
Seo and Lee, Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (2016)