Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Jay West, 59, cut the fingertip of his left thumb while using a table saw. He went to Springhill Medical Center and was advised that a fingertip amputation was medically necessary. After the procedure, his treating surgeon wrote an order authorizing up to 4 mg of IV Dilaudid every three hours. West was moved to the orthopedic floor, where a nurse administered 8 mg of IV Dilaudid in the course of two hours. Almost four hours later, West was found unresponsive, and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. He had been a carpenter and is survived by his wife and two adult children.

West’s wife sued the hospital, alleging failure to properly monitor West for respiratory depression and cardiopulmonary arrest despite his high risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression from his sleep apnea and obesity. Suit claimed the hospital failed to provide any training to its nursing staff on how to protect patients from known fatal dangers of IV opioids.

The jury awarded $35 million.

Citation: West v. Springhill Hosps. Inc., No. 02-CV-2016-901045.00 (Ala. Cir. Ct. Mobile Cty. Feb. 22, 2022).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members J. Brian Duncan Jr., Robert Mitchell, and David Wirtes Jr., all of Mobile, Ala.