Wrongful Death – $850,000

The plaintiff, a 29-year-old black male, was admitted to a Washington, D.C. area hospital for management of a sickle cell crisis and related back, shoulder, and right knee pain.

The management plan called for hydration, oxygen, and pain control with narcotics, including MS Contin, Dilaudid, and Morphine.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., the plaintiff was found unresponsive and covered in vomit.  His mouth was suctioned with no change in status.  He had no respirations or pulse and CPR was started.  The hospital’s CODE system was not working properly that evening, and there was a delay in the response.  The CODE Team’s efforts were unsuccessful and the plaintiff was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m.

Plaintiff alleged that the hospital nursing staff failed to adequately monitor plaintiff’s condition and failed to appreciate that he was falling into a depressed respiratory state.  In addition, the plaintiff alleged that the hospital was negligent in failing to properly maintain its CODE system.

The case was settled during litigation.