When loved ones are ill, residents of Massachusetts have little choice but to trust in the training and judgment of medical professionals. Sadly, sometimes that trust is misplaced, as seems to be the case in a recent incident in another state. A retired professor has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after alleged doctor error led to the death of his wife.
The man is suing three doctors, as well as McKay-Dee Hospital where the physicians are employed. In addition, the suit also names the hospital’s parent company, IHC Health Services, as a defendant. The defendants stand accused of giving the woman a drug known as Haldol, despite a clear FDA warning on the box that would seem to counter-indicate its use, given her medical history.
The woman had sought medical help in the past for dementia-related psychosis and had a medical history that included memory issues and persistent confusion. While she was being treated at the hospital, the 72-year-old was given Haldol for her diagnosed confusion and agitation. However, a safety warning specifically indicated that the drug had been linked to increased mortality in elderly patients suffering from dementia-related psychosis. Nevertheless, the suit alleges, doctors continued to repeatedly administer excessive doses of the drug even after the patient began suffering from signs of an overdose, including heart rhythm disturbances and mental deterioration.
Eventually, before her death, she was discovered in a catatonic state, though the complaint says that prior to the administration of the drug, the woman’s condition had been improving. For the alleged negligence that led to his wife’s death, the grieving husband is seeking damages. Likewise, any residents of Massachusetts who have similarly lost a loved one due to doctor error or medical negligence may benefit from consulting an attorney with experience in medical malpractice cases who can help the bereaved family pursue justice.
Source: standard.net, “McKay Dee Hospital, 3 doctors face wrongful-death lawsuit“, Mark Shenefelt, July 4, 2017
