The tragic death of 2-year-old Maya Getahun, following a severe allergic reaction to fire ant bites, has led her parents to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Gwinnett County’s Piedmont Eastside Medical Center, as they allege the hospital provided “sub-standard medical care,” according to 11Alive. The complaint, filed late last week, also levels accusations at an ER physician, who the lawsuit says failed to expedite necessary treatment for the young girl’s condition.
The situation unfolded in October last year when Maya was rushed to the ER due to respiratory distress from an allergic reaction. The Bell Law Firm, representing the Getahun’s family, asserts in the lawsuit that “the medical staff waited over 20 minutes before administering epinephrine,” a drug essential for countering severe allergic reactions. This delay is argued to have critically worsened Maya’s state, a statement obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta describes.
Beyond the alleged delay, the complaint further scrutinizes the ER physician’s decision-making during the emergency. Apparently recognizing Maya’s allergic reaction, the staff proceeded to intubate her through rapid sequence intubation (RSI), a method intended to quickly secure the patient’s airway. However, the complaint suggests that the necessary equipment required for a pediatric case was not available. Health experts acknowledge RSI as a technique to significantly reduce risk of aspiration…