A malpractice case has been settled after defendant pediatricians, nurses, and hospital charged with the care of an eighteen month old child failed to take necessary action to address the child’s rapidly deteriorating condition.
The eighteen month old child was seen at Defendant Pediatricians’ office four times over the course of three days presenting symptoms of fever and gastrointestinal upset. One of the pediatricians made the decision to transport the child to the hospital on an emergent basis. However, upon arrival, the child was only treated for gastroenteritis and dehydration, despite worsening respiratory distress. Despite clear signs of significant respiratory distress, the child received no escalation in support by the resident pediatrician, attending pediatrician, or staff nurses until one day after her admittance at which point she was emergently transferred to another hospital that was more adequately capable of caring for pediatric patients with respiratory failure.
As a result of Defendants’ failure to take immediate action to address the child’s rapidly deteriorating condition, the child suffered from sepsis syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome leaving her multiple, permanent handicaps. If the medical professionals charged with the child’s care had treated her respiratory illness earlier with intubation and mechanical ventilation, she would have had the opportunity for a different outcome.
After filing suit against the pediatricians, resident pediatrician, hospital, and hospital nurses, the defendants’ agreed to pay out $3,825,000.
Medical malpractice is a serious claim, but a necessary one when a failure to provide adequate service leads to such a traumatic result. Anyone who believes their condition may have been misdiagnosed or improperly handled is highly encouraged to seek additional medical support or advice and learn more about their right to file suit against a medical professional who may have been in error.
