Anonymous Parents and Next Best Friends of an Anonymous Minor v. an Unnamed Hospital and Various Physicians
(Overdose of an Antibiotic Causing Permanent Hearing Loss)

Case Facts: We represent a minor child, through her parents, for permanent hearing loss occasioned when she was negligently administered more than four times the amount of antibiotics appropriate for her age and size.

On March 28, 2007, our client, the minor child and a beautiful young girl, was admitted to an Unnamed Hospital for performance of a hearing test known as a BAER procedure. It was determined that during the course of this testing procedure, which was performed under general anesthesia, that she should receive an antibiotic that had been prescribed for her weeks before the operation. We allege that through a series of incomprehensible negligent acts, she was administered 980 mgs. of the antibiotic, vancomycin, rather than the prescribed dose of 240 mgs. she had been taking prior to this admission.

While in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit), it was noted that the child was covered in a red rash and had a distended abdomen. A determination was made to then transfer this little girl to the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit). While she was there, the attending physician determined and recorded in the medical record that this little girl has suffered as a result of “Vancomycin toxicity.”

On September 18, 2006, Client developed a right pneumothorax requiring emergency placement of a chest tube.

The Result: We allege that as a result of this negligent overdose of vancomycin, this child has now suffered a substantial hearing loss. She has come under the care of other health care providers at another institution for this loss. Having been tested with respect to her hearing, it has been determined that she has suffered a significant hearing loss as a result of the administration of vancomycin to her by the agents, servants and/or employees of the Defendant Hospital. This little girl is now required to wear hearing aids, which she will be required to do for the rest of her life. Prior to the negligent administration of vancomycin, this child had been suffering from some congenital problems but was fully capable of communicating with the world because she was able to hear and, thus, fully able to learn to interact with others. We are claiming that in addition to her obvious loss of hearing, she has now had her ability to communicate substantially impaired by her hearing loss.

< Back To Previous Page

The above “Cases in Suit” represent a sampling of the types of cases being handled by the lawyers and professional staff of Nash & Associates. Each case varies not only in the facts but also in terms of the jurisdictions in which they are litigated as well as many other intangible factors. We will continue to give you further examples of our cases, which we hope may be of interest to you.