5 Emergency Room Employees + 5 Hour Wait = 4 Amputations

Fox 40 from Sacramento has reported that the parent’s of a child that lost all four of her limbs from a bacterial infection, has filed a medical malpractice suit against a local hospital, and five of their emergency room employees, for allegedly leaving their child waiting five hours for emergency care.

Young Malyia, the daughter of Ryan Jeffers and Leah Vang, had been suffering from a bacterial infection last November when they brought her to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital.

A persistent fever, skin discoloration and weakness prompted her parent’s to take her to the hospital.  

During a five-hour wait, the child grew more and more gravely ill.   At one point Jeffers begged both doctors and nurses in the emergency room to treat his child – finally he forced his way into an office and demanded that they care for her.

It was then discovered that the bacteria had progressed so far that she was beyond the scope of the hospital – Malyia was flown from Sacramento to the Bay Area to be treated at the Stanford University Children’s Hospital.

The infection, streptococcus A, had spread so far that the child had to endure three full amputations and one partial amputation.  Both of her legs and left hand are gone, and she only has part of her right hand left.

The lawsuit contends that the amputations were only necessary due to the excessive wait in the emergency room.

She is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation – with no prognosis as to how long she may require care.

The unknown monetary amount requested as compensation in the settlement is due to the unknown prognosis.  The doctors just don’t know how much more therapy the child will need, or for how long she’ll need it as she grows up.

Compensation is requested for past, present and future medical expenses, as well as emotional compensation.

The medical malpractice suit, filed by Jeffers and Vang, names Catholic Healthcare West, Methodist Hospital and 5 of its emergency room employees for medical malpractice and negligence.

The lawsuit, filed in Sacramento Superior Court, reads, “The hospital chose to negligently staff, operate and supervise the emergency room.”

A statement directly from Methodist Hospital in regards to the lawsuit said, “At Methodist Hospital patient care and safety is our number one priority. We were sorry to hear about the eventual outcome for Malyia and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. We are unable to comment on matters of impending litigation.”

The family’s attorney, Moseley Collins, said, “The hospital delayed treatment to this poor little girl.  The key was not correctly identifying how serious, or how sick, the child was.   I’m sure that they are sorry for the way this turned out.   And the results of this lawsuit will be that hospitals will take better care of our children in the future.”

If someone you hold dear has been irrevocably harmed due to care, or lack of care, by medical personnel, you may be due monetary compensation.  See our directory to contact a medical malpractice lawyer right away!