Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleges Improperly Prescribed Medication

August 18, 2006 - A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of a thirty four year old woman who died as a result of the ingestion of the drug meperidine, commonly referred to as Demerol, which was being administered through a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) pump. A physician prescribed the medication following the victim's admission to the Emergency Department of an Illinois hospital with complaints of diarrhea and abdominal pain. She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with psudomembranous colitis with profound ileus. Throughout her admission the Demerol was being administered via the PCA pump. The patient subsequently developed hypoxia, hypotension and then cardiopulmonary arrest. She died despite the hospital's resuscitative efforts. The lawsuit alleges that the physician failed to meet the standard of care in this case and that the medication was negligently and improperly prescribed.

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