Celebrities and Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
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Recently, actor Dennis Quaid and his wife filed a medical malpractice suit against Baxter Healthcare Corp. (BHC). The case is the result of an overdose of heparin that was given to newborn twins of the couple while they were at Cedars Sinaii Hospital. Heparin is a product that is given to treat hemophiliacs and anyone with infectious diseases, trauma or immune disorders.
The product was mislabeled and the infants received 1,000 times the dose that they were supposed to receive. This type of negligence is even more heartbreaking when you learn that the company became aware of this problem upon the deaths of three other babies.
Improperly produced medications and packaging are a real and serious danger. The Quaids feel that their legal action will bring the dangers of this type of negligence to the forefront and make more people aware of what could happen.
Another celebrity who became a victim of medical malpractice was Ron Springs, running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Ron’s wife, Adriane, has filed suit against a plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist who were negligent in their treatment.
The story is even worse in that Ron Springs was in the hospital originally for a kidney transplant. In 2004 he was put on a transplant list and in March 2006 his best friend and fellow team mate Everson Walls agreed to donate one of his kidneys to Springs. The operation took place in March and was a success. But in October of the same year, Springs was in the hospital for minor surgery for a cyst on his elbow when he went into cardiac arrest and slipped into a coma where he remains to this day.
Hip hop artist Kanye West lost his beloved mother because of the negligence of a plastic surgeon who should never have performed the surgery on Donda West because of her medical history. In 2007 Dr. Jan Adams, performed the breast implant surgery on Donda and she never recovered. Dr. Adams has since surrendered his license. He has been arrested on several occasions for driving under the influence and another time for not paying a previous judgment from another medical malpractice lawsuit.
Celebrities are not above medical negligence. They can suffer the same consequences and loss that everyday people go through. The only good thing is that their very celebrity brings many of these circumstances to the forefront and make more people aware of what is going on out there.
Because of the Quaids, the focus is on proper packaging and dosage of medications, especially for small children. With the Ron Springs case, a more positive focus on the dire need for transplant patients has been highlighted. Most people don’t think about it until someone that they know becomes in need of a donor. You don’t have to know Ron Springs personally to think about becoming an organ donor yourself.
If you ever find yourself or a loved one in the position of being a victim of medical malpractice, please contact the law office of Napoli Bern Ripka at 1-888-LAW-IN-NY for a free consultation. Our main office is located in the Empire State Building. Or you can fill out our quick contact form on our website.