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Medical malpractice: Doctor accused of another patient overdose

On Behalf of | Feb 21, 2019 | Doctor Errors

Massachusetts patients and families will be likely alarmed by an ongoing criminal investigation against a doctor at a hospital in another state. The doctor is being criminally investigated, and he and the hospital are facing multiple medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits. One family has filed another lawsuit against the physician, involving different circumstances than the others.

The 58-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for congestive heart failure. According to the lawsuit, the man was admitted to the intensive care unit for further evaluation and a planned procedure to his heart. Before the procedure could be completed, the family was notified that the patient was not doing well. The family consented to the patient to not be resuscitated if his heart failed while under medical care.

Following the consent, the lawsuit claims that the patient was given 10 milligrams of an intravenous pain medicine called dilaudid. According to medical experts, 10 milligrams exceeded the normal safe dose even for end-of-life patients. In addition, the family claims that the nurse who administered the dose of dilaudid questioned the doctor’s order more than once prior to giving it. Not long after the medicine was given, the man died.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed is one of many that the doctor is facing. The hospital reports that it has identified 34 patients that received an overdose of medication while under the physician’s care, but it was not reported how many died from fatal doses. Any patient or family member who suspects similar medical malpractice from a doctor may receive helpful advice from a Massachusetts attorney.