11-year-old in remission from leukemia went to the hospital in pain. The prescribed morphine then killed her
Ava Wilson's family filed a lawsuit against Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation following her death in 2020.
On October 31 of that year, Ava died in her sleep 'due to acute combined drug toxicity of morphine, hydroxyzine and gabapentin, the family's attorneys at Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard P.C. said this week. The lawsuit claimed she had lethal levels of morphine in her system.
Ava had been discharged from a clinic in Illinois 36 hours before her death. While there, the child was 'crying in pain' and 'had difficulty walking and foot drop,' attorneys said.
Medical staff ran tests that later showed Ava had low platelet counts, low blood cell counts, high liver enzymes and low blood pressure, the release stated.
Her attorneys claimed her blood pressure had not been rechecked before she was discharged.
'Instead of admitting Ava to the hospital to get her blood pressure, heart rate and pain levels within acceptable and normal limits, Advocate employees sent Ava home with excessive pain medications,' Matthew L Williams, the lead trial attorney, said in a release.
'Ava's body was yelling out to these clinicians, 'help me!', and they just ignored it.'
A nurse practitioner at the clinic prescribed Ava 100 mg of gabapentin to be taken three times a day and 15 mg of morphine to be taken every four hours as needed, according to the civil complaint obtained by The News & Observer.
The child's oncologist did not examine her but endorsed the nurse practitioner's recommendation.
'Prior to this appointment, all of Ava's prior morphine prescriptions to be taken at home were for just 5 mg. (The nurse practitioner) also increased Ava's gabapentin prescription and sent her home. When taken together, the medications can make each other stronger,' according to a news release from the law firm.
In a written statement, Advocate Health And Hospitals Corporation told the newspaper, 'Our hearts go out to this family. We are committed to providing appropriate care to every patient. Due to patient privacy, we are unable to comment further.'
Ava had been in remission from B-lymphoblastic leukemia.
A news release from the attorneys said her 'outlook was positive' and 'she had no detectable leukemia in her blood.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
California doctor sued for ‘wrongful death' after shipping abortion drugs interstate in legal first
A Texas man is suing a doctor in California he claims mailed his girlfriend pills to end her pregnancy - in what may be a legal first - and a test of new state abortion laws. Jerry Rodriguez filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Remy Coeytaux, after the doctor sent the abortion-inducing drugs across state lines in order to 'murder his unborn son,' Rodriguez claimed. It appears to be the first time an interstate lawsuit for wrongful death over an abortion has been filed, according to The Washington Post. In Texas, a person who assists a pregnant woman in obtaining a self-managed abortion commits the crime of murder and can be sued for wrongful death, the lawsuit, filed in Texas federal court and obtained by The Independent, states. The woman herself cannot be prosecuted. The suit adds it is also a state jail felony for anyone other than a Texas-licensed physician to provide an abortion-inducing drug for the purpose of inducing an abortion. 'In violation of these and many other laws, defendant Remy Coeytaux mailed abortion-inducing drugs into Texas that were used to murder Jerry Rodriguez's unborn child,' the complaint reads. Rodriguez is suing Coeytaux for $75,000 over what he claims is wrongful death. He's also seeking an injunction to stop the doctor from distributing abortion-inducing drugs in violation of state or federal law. The injunction, the suit states, is being sought 'on behalf of a class of all current and future fathers of unborn children in the United States.' But such state legislation clashes with that of California, which retains a so-called 'Shield Law' to protect medical professionals such as Coeytaux. The law provides that 'California will not deliver a person accused or charged with committing a crime related to abortion/gender-affirming care over to law enforcement officials.' This includes situations where a California-licensed pharmacist dispenses an abortion-inducing drug mifepristone to a patient in a state with abortion-restrictive laws. According to Rodriguez's suit, he began dating his girlfriend in June 2024, while she was separated from her husband, but not yet divorced. The Independent has chosen not to name the woman, due to privacy reasons and because she is not a defendant in the lawsuit. The suit alleges that the woman's husband, Adam Garza, twice ordered the abortion medication from Coeytaux after she became pregnant by Rodriguez 'with the intent of using them to murder Mr. Rodriguez's unborn child,' and 'pressured her' to take the pills. A Venmo receipt confirming Garza's purchase of the drugs from Coeytaux was included in the lawsuit, with a reference of ''Aed axes' – allegedly a homonym for 'Aid Access,' an organization that ships abortion-inducing drugs into jurisdictions where abortion is not legal. 'Defendant Coeytaux caused the death of Mr. Rodriguez's unborn child through his wrongful acts,' the lawsuit states. 'Although [the woman] cannot be charged with murder for her role in killing her unborn child, her immunity does not shield Coeytaux from liability for aiding or abetting or directly participating in the murder.' 'Mr. Rodriguez seeks this injunction on behalf of a class of all current and future fathers of unborn children in the United States.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Experts recommend a 'micro' exercise to lose weight... and it only takes 30 seconds
The thought of getting in 10,000 steps while working a 9-5 or waking up before sunrise to workout may sound daunting to most people, despite knowing the importance of physical activity. But now, experts suggest you may be able to get the benefits of walking without going on miles-long strolls. In fact, it could only take 30-second bursts, dubbed 'micro-walks,' to stay healthy, with research suggesting this activity could be more beneficial than long walks. Micro-walks are defined as walking for 10 to 30 seconds at a time with breaks between your next stint. They can be as simple as going up a flight of stairs or doing a lap around your office. A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B looked to test the efficiency of walking over different time intervals. In their research, the team used volunteers who walked on a treadmill or climbed a short flight of stairs for different time periods ranging from 10 seconds to four minutes. They found that people who walked in short bursts used up to 60 percent more energy than those who took longer, slower walks, despite the walks covering the same distance. And the more energy you expend, the more you boost metabolism and the more calories you burn. Micro-walks are defined as walking for 10 to 30 seconds at a time with breaks between your next walk Your browser does not support iframes. Researchers concluded that doing brief bursts of walking might boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories than taking longer, steady strolls. Globally, one in four adults does not get adequate physical activity. In the US, nearly half of Americans are overweight or obese and around 300,000 deaths are the result of physical inactivity and poor eating habits, according to estimates by the CDC. 'Micro-walks are particularly effective for sedentary individuals or those in recovery, offering an accessible way to reintroduce movement,' Dr Zulia Frost, co-founder and clinical director of Recharge Health, told USA Today. Starting to exercise can seem overwhelming and even scary to some, but micro-walks can start to set you on a path of renewed health and fitness without needing to commit to long workouts that take up a huge chunk of your day. 'It's really about doing what you can,' dietitian Albert Matheny, a co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab, told Women's Health. 'If you're not a big walker and you think, "I don't want to walk five miles," then just do 30-second bursts. It's more attainable.' And there are numerous benefits to the short walks. Even a few minutes of walking after meals can aid digestion and help regulate blood sugar levels. Research shows that short bursts of movement throughout the day contribute to calorie burn and improved metabolism. Sitting for long periods can cause stiffness, back pain, and decreased energy levels. Taking a five-minute walking break every hour can improve circulation, boost concentration, and reduce fatigue. Additionally, a quick stroll can be a mood-lifter. Micro-walks have the ability to reduce stress hormones and enhance creativity, effectively boosting productivity. And a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Walking - even in short intervals - also helps regulate blood pressure, manage weight, and improve cardiovascular health. Additionally, in a recent analysis of nearly 60 studies, researchers found just 7,000 steps, not the always-touted 10,000, in a day was enough to lower the risk of dementia, heart disease and some forms of cancer. Scientists compared the effects of 7,000 daily steps to 2,000. Based on health data from 160,000 people, those who walked 7,000 steps a day had a 25 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, America's number one killer. Additionally, 7,000 daily steps led to a 38 percent drop in dementia risk. People who adhered to the measure were also less likely to suffer from depression than those who got just 2,000 steps in a day.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
US cities have seen an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks
Life-threatening heat waves and consecutive hot days, known as heat streaks, are increasingly affecting US cities due to human-caused climate change. A report by the non-profit Climate Central revealed an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks across 247 analyzed US cities, with 198 cities experiencing two more streaks annually than in the early 1970s. Cities in the Southwest, Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Southeast, including Nashville and Raleigh, have seen the most significant rise in heat streak frequency. Prolonged heat poses severe risks, such as increased heat-related illnesses, worsened air quality, and strain on electrical grids, with heat being the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, accounting for 2,325 deaths in 2023. A new heat wave is currently impacting 100 million Americans, bringing temperatures up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average and 'feels like' temperatures potentially reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit in some regions.
