Nursing Home Death from Morphine Overdose Results in $4.85 Million Award
A jury has awarded the family of Burr Needham $4.85 M for his nursing home death. Needham died of a morphine overdose while undergoing physical therapy for a nondisplaced hip fracture at Mercy Memorial Nursing Center in 2002.
The County medical examiner had ruled his death a homicide caused by acute morphine intoxication. Yet the nursing home staff couldn’t account for the morphine that was administered to Needham.
In their nursing home negligence lawsuit, Needham’s family accused Dr. Arun Gupta and five nurses of being responsible for the medication overdose. Last week, the jury agreed, awarding $3 million to Needham’s wife, who died in 2007, for noneconomic loss of society and companionship, $1.5 million for Needham’s own pain and suffering, and $350,000 for damages, including burial expenses and other valuables and gifts Mrs. Needham would have received from her husband prior to her death. A judge had dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit in 2008 but a three-judge panel on the state’s Court of Appeals reinstated it in 2009.
Morphine Overdose
Taking too much morphine can prove fatal. Signs of a morphine overdose include:
• Hypotension
• Bradycardia
• Shallow and slowed breathing
• Limp muscles
• Severe drowsiness
• Fluid in the lungs
• Limp muscles
• Clammy skin
• Small pupils
Morphine is used for pain control. It is important that the correct dosage is administered to the patient so that he or she doesn’t overdose, become addicted, or suffer other health complications. Failure to properly administer this powerful drug at an assisted living facility can be grounds for a Chicago, Illinois nursing home neglect and abuse complaint.
Family wins $4.85 million for nursing home death, Toledo Blade, June 29, 2010
Morphine Uses, MedTV
Related Web Resource:
National Center on Elder Abuse
