As reported by The Capital Hometown Annapolis, a couple has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a hospital that amputated their young son's two limbs instead of testing, and treating, him for a systemic strep infection.
E.F. Jr., 6 years old, had his legs amputated at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, also referred to as BWMC, after he came in with a high fever and elevated heart rate on December 12.
Officials for the hospital have defended their physician's actions and contend that the child received care that was both "thorough and appropriate."
Once D.B., the boy's mother, brought him in to BWMC they were assigned to Dr. K.C.H. as their attending physician.
H. Briggs Bedigian represents the family. Bedigian has claimed that the child entered BWMC with an elevated temperature of 102.5 degrees and swollen tonsils. The youth had chief complaints of pain in his abdomen, left leg and left groin.
An x-ray of the boy's left hip and an ultrasound of his testicles revealed nothing that stood out, per the suit. The suit states that doctors also failed to order a blood test or rapid strep test.
A few hours later the child was released from the hospital. His diagnosis of nasal congestion and hip strain warranted a prescription of ibuprofen alone. But, within 24 hours, E.F. Jr. was back - this time he was immediately taken to the Baltimore's Maryland Shock Trauma Center - to treat a systemic strep infection.
After nine days doctors decided to amputate E.F. Jr.'s legs just above his knees.
Bedigian said, "If they had just taken a blood sample, they would have given him some antibiotic and he would still be the star of his soccer team."
The attorney stated that the blood test is standard procedure for the symptoms that E.F. Jr. first presented with.
Both the attending physician and the hospital are named in the suit for their negligence - in not taking a thorough medical history or in conducting an exam that would have taken into account all of the child's symptoms.
Hospital officials, in a prepared statement, said that they were sympathetic to the family and were also pleased that through their grief the couple was "trying to educate other parents of the potential complications of advanced strep infections through media attention."
The hospital spokesman, Kevin Cservek, further added, "(E.F. Jr.'s) symptoms were simply not consistent with or indicative of this very aggressive form of infection."
The suit is filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court and the damages have yet to be specified.
Per his attorney, as he grows, E.F. Jr.'s medical bills can add up to millions of dollars.
Per state records, Dr. K.C.H. has no history of disciplinary actions or malpractice judgments or settlements.
If your child has been hurt, instead of helped, by a physician or medical facility, you have grounds for a lawsuit. Click here to contact a medical malpractice attorney near you today!