Having to choose to keep a loved one on life support or not is a difficult and heartbreaking decision that some Joliet families are forced to make when loved ones suffer major health problems that are completely unavoidable.
Now, imagine what it must have felt like for one family who learned that their loved one was put on life support because hospital workers had made a dangerous medication error that prevented the elderly patient from being able to breathe on her own.
The family was devastated when they learned that their loved one had to be put on life support two summers ago because of complications from an asthma attack. The patient was admitted to a hospital when she had the asthma attack, but after being treated with medication, her condition worsened and she was put on life support. The woman’s family was told that she would not live and that it would be best to take the patient off of life support.
The family waited several days before making a decision, which was fortunate because the patient’s condition began to improve within four days of being put on life support. After going through this ordeal, the family learned that hospital workers had given the patient the wrong medication when she was admitted to the hospital.
Staff gave the woman a medication that is not recommended for people with asthma or other respiratory problems because the medication may cause patients’ hearts to slow down and it may also constrict the lungs. These are dangerous side effects for people with asthma, especially those who are suffering from asthma attacks.
The family now believes that their loved one was put on life support after suffering dangerous side effects from being given the wrong medication, and they are very upset that this mistake was even made. The hospital has admitted that the patient should have never been given the wrong medication, but the hospital refuses to admit that the mistake caused the patient to be put on life support.
If you have been harmed by a medication error, you deserve to seek justice for what has happened to you and your family. Pursuing a lawsuit may help you get the compensation you need to pay for your injury-related expenses, and it may also force negligent parties to take responsibility for their dangerous actions.
Source: CBC News, “Senior gets wrong meds, ends up on life support,” May 23, 2013
