A recent story about a 15-year-old autistic boy who died shortly after undergoing dental work at Seattle Children’s hospital has left parents feeling shocked and outraged. According to a kirotv.com article, the boy was discharged from the hospital on March 9 and was discovered dead the next day. The cause of this tragic death was linked to a drug overdose of fentanyl administered by a pain patch that is usually given to patients who suffer from chronic pain. The FDA notes that fentanyl is not meant to be given as a pain reliever for mild surgical procedures. In fact, fentanyl is actually intended for those who commonly take narcotic pain medication.
Although Seattle Children’s hospital has publically apologized for their serious medical error, many parents are wondering if their children are safe in the supposed caring hands of physicians and other medical professionals. Hospital officials have said that they are taking necessary steps to ensure that such a mistake never occurs again. The question still remains though as to why such a powerful medication like fentanyl was given to the teenager in the first place. It is also unnerving that the medical mishap is said to not have been the fault of one particular medical professional, but was instead the failure of multiple individuals.
Based on the story, the Medical Director of Seattle Children’s stated, “We can never bring back this child or fully understand to what level we have devastated their family….We are deeply sorry for the family and will everything in our power to ensure this never happens to another child at Children’s.”
In learning of this serious incident, it may not surprise most people that the family of the deceased teenager has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming that reckless and negligent behavior on the part of the two dentists and Seattle Children’s was responsible for the teen’s death. With the assistance of a medical malpractice lawyer in Seattle, the family may receive compensation for their loss.
At the Bernard Law Group, we have taken on many cases similar to this wrongful death incident. No one ever expects that medical professionals will contribute to a patient’s death, especially when dealing with dentistry; however, medical malpractice does occur when nurses and doctors fail to exercise a certain standard of care. If you have lost a loved one due to a medical professional’s negligence as a result of misdiagnosis, surgical error, or medication overdose, contact the Bernard Law Group. We will ensure that your rights are protected and that justice can be served for the loss of an innocent life. Call 1-800-418-8282 today for a free consultation.
Source report: http://www.kirotv.com/health/21149359/detail.html