Widow claims hospital negligence regarding her husband’s death

In Louisiana or elsewhere, losing a loved one is never easy. For many the cause of death, whether it be a long-term illness, a tragic accident or a natural disaster, is ultimately unimportant. However, that opinion may quickly change if those who have been left behind believe that their loved one could have been saved. One woman has filed a lawsuit claiming that medical malpractice and hospital negligence were the cause of her husband’s death.

The man was originally hospitalized on Nov. 23, 2015, complaining of pain that had been fluctuating for three weeks. A CT scan revealed that the patient was suffering from diverticulitis, a condition where pouches form and bulge along the colon wall. Despite a fever and increased pain, the man underwent surgery two days after he was admitted.

After the surgery, the man began to exhibit more symptoms. First, he complained of increased abdominal pain and chills, and later he continued to complain about the increased abdominal pain as well as fatigue. Doctors performed multiple tests, which revealed a high heart rate and critically elevated levels of potassium. He was then diagnosed with hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia and acute renal failure. However, even with treatment, the patient’s condition continued to worsen, and he became increasingly restless.

His doctor signed off on a transfer to another hospital around 5:30 on the afternoon of Nov. 29, but it was almost 8:45 p.m. when the patient was put onto an ambulance for non-emergency transport. The medical center sent another ambulance to intercept the first one only to discover that the patient was now unresponsive, though breathing on his own. The doctors also discovered that the man was suffering from surgical complications missed by the doctors at the first hospital. Unfortunately, the mistake was not caught in time, and the man passed away several days later.

The widow has claimed that the doctors’ failure to catch their mistake was the direct cause of her husband’s death. She is seeking compensation for emotional suffering as well as economic hardship. Speaking with an attorney could benefit Louisiana residents in similar circumstances who believe that hospital negligence or malpractice is to blame for a loved one’s death or injury.

Source: aspentimes.com, “Texas widow sues Aspen Valley Hospital over husband’s 2015 death“, Rick Carroll, Dec. 17, 2017