Unfortunately, many Oregonians have had or will have a medical scare in their lifetime. The good news is that medical professionals are on standby, ready to help those in need of help. In many instances, these highly educated and trained individuals are able to quickly and adequately treat patients, leaving them better off. All too often, though, a medical mistake occurs, and a patient is harmed, sometimes fatally.
This happened to a child nearly four years ago, and his family is now filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital they believe is responsible for his passing. The seven-year-old victim died after he was improperly intubated, depriving him of oxygen. The child had been in a bathtub at home when he was found submerged. The child coughed up water, but his mother still sent him to the hospital. There, medical professionals gave the child drugs to stop his breathing in order to allow intubation, but multiple attempts to intubate him failed, causing him to be deprived of oxygen. One medical professional stated that medical personnel did not use the right sized tube in a timely fashion.
Fatal accidents like this are wholly unacceptable. Patients put their lives in the hands of medical professionals, and these doctors, nurses and paramedics should ensure they act accordingly. Failing to do so, as evidenced by the case discussed above, can cause death and bring extreme heartache to an undeserving family.
One way for a family to find relief after the loss of a loved one is to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims, when successful, can bring a family compensation for their emotional and financial losses and may bring a family a sense of justice and closure. Additionally, these lawsuits punish doctor mistakes which will hopefully prevent similar fatal accidents from occurring in the future.
Source: Fox 17, “Family Files Lawsuit Against West Michigan Hospital After Son’s Death,” Jessica McMaster, June 26, 2014