Central Valley California Hospital Sued for Wrongful Death After Patient Dies in Emergency Room

Central Valley’s Kiawah Health Center is being sued for wrongful death by the family of a patient who died in the hospital’s emergency room. The lawsuit alleges that emergency room staff failed to act with sufficient urgency when 60-year-old Erick Burger was admitted with chest pains and trouble breathing. Burger died shortly after arriving at the hospital, and the family believes he would still be alive if the emergency room staff had been more diligent.

Are you a licensed nurse on the staff of a hospital being sued for negligence or malpractice in connection with the death of a patient? There may be additional risk beyond the lawsuit. Don’t rely on your hospital’s legal team, because they will be protecting the hospital’s interests, not yours. These lawsuits can lead to board investigations and license sanctions. Call the LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online today.

Several Witnesses Find Fault with Hospital Staff

State regulators investigated, and the lawsuit is based in part on the findings of that investigation. According to the paramedic’s report and a former hospital staff member, two unnamed Kiawah Health Center emergency room nurses “were just sitting around and showed no urgency” after Burger was brought into the hospital. The paramedic’s report also claims that they alerted the hospital to a patient in serious condition ten minutes before their arrival.

Paramedics Say Nurses Focused on Private Conversation

Paramedics note that despite alerting the hospital in advance that their patient needed immediate attention, the two nurses in question were engaged in a “private conversation” when they arrived with Burger. The paramedics then asked where Burger should be taken, but the nurses “giggled” and then told the paramedics they would have to complete the patient registration process first.

Although the paramedics complied, Burger’s condition began to worsen, and he had a seizure. A patient’s care record, discovered during the state’s investigation, indicates that the two nurses in question still failed to act promptly. Burger passed away shortly thereafter.

Nurses Dismissed and Being Investigated

Kiawah Health released a statement saying that the nurses named in the lawsuit were placed on administrative leave and then terminated. The statement also noted that both nurses had been referred to the California Board of Registered Nursing for an investigation. Their licenses could be suspended or revoked, depending on the results of that investigation.

Although the allegations against the nurses in this case are disturbing, it’s important to remember they are still allegations. Bad patient outcomes can lead to board investigations and jeopardize your career. Your license is your livelihood, and any sanctions could do permanent damage to your professional reputation. Protect yourself. The LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help. Call us at 888-535-3686 or contact us online today.