Failure to Monitor Patient By VA Hosptial Results in Death of Patient - Settlement for Plaintiff, $200,000.00

Outcome: Settlement

Description: Plaintiff's husband underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at Emory University Hospital, returned one week later with drainage from the chest tube site, and was admitted to the ICU for treatment of a staph infection. After another unsuccessful operation, Mr. Schrems suffered a stroke. Mr. Schrems was transferred from Emory University Hospital to the VA Hospital for rehabilitation. While in the SICU, Mr. Schrems required frequent suctioning of his tracheostomy tube due to his inability to expectorate thick secretions. For some reason, Mr. Schrems was transferred from the SICU to a room of the VA Hospital. While in the room, Mr. Schrems was not continuously monitored with pulse oximetry, and there was no suctioning of Mr. Schrems' tracheostomy tube. As a result. Mr. Schrems choked and was left in a vegetative state. His family decided to discontinue life support. The case was Caroline Schrems v United States of America, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia.