The family of a woman who was given an almost lethal dose of morphine has reached a settlement agreement with the hospital that was treating her. The settlement agreement was sent to a judge for final approval.
There are six potential beneficiaries for the settlement, including the woman’s children and her sister. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. It was proposed that two of the woman’s sons would get $10,000 each, and the remainder of the settlement would be divided between the woman’s daughters. The woman’s sister declined to receive a part of the settlement.
The wrongful death suit stemmed from an incident that occurred in 2011. The woman fell while at home and broke her hip and arm. While in the hospital, she was given a morphine drip to help manage her pain. The suit alleges that a nurse gave the woman too large a dose of morphine which caused the woman to suffering respiratory distress and cardiac arrest. The overdose led to damage to the woman’s heart, lungs and kidneys, and she died several months later.
When a medical facility makes a mistake that results in injuries or death, those who are affected have the right to seek compensation for their losses. Injured parties can seek reimbursement for medical bills, final expenses and other damages that are a direct result of the incident. Anyone who is considering seeking financial relief after an incident could speak to a West Virginia legal professional that is experienced in the area of personal injury. These individuals can help a person determine if seeking compensation is a viable option.
Source: WV Record, “Settlement reached in lawsuit against Thomas Memorial for woman’s death” Kayla Asbury, Dec. 19, 2013
