Even though we know that there are some medical conditions for which there is no cure, this does not make it any easier when a loved one dies as a result of a serious condition. Such was the case for a mother and father in Santa Ana whose son suffered brain damage because of complications with his condition. But that grief now has an edge of anger because they recently learned that their son’s current condition might have been a result of hospital negligence.
The parents of the boy claim that they did not fully learn about their son’s case until 2012. They began to suspect, after reading the Hospice Admission Report for their son, that he had been unnecessarily prescribed sedatives and had been improperly put into hospice care. Kaiser’s medical negligence ultimately led to a severe hypoxic episode in 2008 that left the boy with significant drain damage, his parents believe.
Although the hospital claims that the treatment they provided was “medically necessary,” the boy’s parents believe otherwise. According to a medical malpractice lawsuit that was filed in Orange County, the parent’s believe that rather than treat their son for his genetic condition, Kaiser put him in hospice and prescribed him sedatives in order to hasten his death.
As any of our California readers can imagine, a case such as this would no doubt make someone’s grief feel as if it had just happened. It’s possible that this is what is happening for the parents in this case as well. But receiving compensation and holding the hospital accountable for their actions may ease this pain as well as help them gain some closure from this tragedy. Perhaps the family in this case will experience the same thing when their litigation is complete.
Source: Courthouse News Service, “Kaiser Accused of Trying to Hasten Boy’s Death,” Barbara Wallace, May 23, 2014