Allergic Reaction Prior To Death

On 13^th February 2016, our Client called 999 requesting an ambulance for her elderly mother, who was experiencing severe back pain.

The ambulance first responder arrived at 4.09pm and was provided with a full list of allergies as our client always kept them in a notebook for emergencies.

Once the ambulance crew arrived, our client again repeated all of the allergies to medication her mother had which had been provided to the first responder and she handed the paramedics the paperwork that the first responder had completed. Her mother was taken via ambulance to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Defendant Hospital (Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals).

Our client waited in the Accident and Emergency Department waiting area until she was called through to her mother’s bedside. She repeated all of the medication that her mother was allergic and this was written on her file by the attending doctor.

Her mother was later taken for an x-ray of her back which the results confirmed that there were no fractures and that the pain was muscular. A bed was then found in the AAU Department for an overnight stay.

On Sunday 14^th February 2016, our Client’s mother was transferred via internal transport. She was laid flat during the transportation which is contra indicative for patients who suffer from COPD.

Her mother was then put on Ward 35. Once she settled into the ward, she started to vomit when sitting upright. The Nurse attending and asked our Client if it was alright to give her mother an injection of Enoxaparin into her stomach to stop blood clots, of which she said that that was acceptable as she knew her Mother had received that injection previously.

A Doctor was called to check our Client’s mother due to the sickness and she was going to provide an injection to settle her stomach. Our Client asked what the medication was and the reply was Pantoprazole which she stopped from being given to her Mother as she knew that she was allergic to any of the “azole” ending medication.

Later, her mother was then moved to another ward but no tests were done to determine what was causing the sickness. She then was transferred to Ward 9.

From Sunday 14^th February 2016 to Friday 19^th February 2016, our Client’s mother was progressing well and looked forward to being eventually discharged.

Our Client arrived to visit her Mother on Friday 19^th February 2016 who had been sick and wasn’t feeling very well. The cannula in her left hand was causing her discomfort; therefore she asked one of the nursing staff if it could be removed. There was a drip in situ which had not been flowing properly and the machine was bleeping. On closer inspection it was found that there were 4 air bubbles in the clear tube and the nursing staffs was asked to resolve this.

After the evening meal, a Doctor arranged to see our Client’ mother and he was going to arrange the next dose of medication. Our Client asked what medication was intended and the Doctor informed her that it was a tablet to settle the sickness. The name of the medication was Lansoprazole. She was obviously dismayed by this because of the number of times she had indicated that her Mother was allergic to this medication.

The Doctor informed our Client that her Mother had been given some Lansoprazole earlier that day and she was fine.

N.B. Previous instances of taking Lansoprazole resulted in her mother suffering symptoms similar to Stephen Johnson’s Syndrome where her breathing was affected and her whole body turned red. Her skin would peel at an alarming rate and she was admitted to hospital as a result.

Our Client instructed the Doctor to cease the medication immediately.

On Saturday 20^th February 2016 our Client had noted that her mother was not well at all; her whole body was bright red and she had a fan pointing towards her to try and cool her down. She had an oxygen mask on to assist her breathing and she was not responding when spoken too. There were traces of blood in her urine and a Staff Nurse indicated that she had a urinary tract infection and cultures had been taken.

On Sunday 21^st February 2016, our Client was told that her mother’s her blood pressure had dropped to 79 at that point and she was still very red all over her body due to reaction to have been given Lansoprazole. She explained to the Nurse that previously, when this sort of reaction had occurred, antihistamines had been given to try to ease the breathing and calm the redness of the skin.

Later, the Consultant, Dr McMillan, had informed the family that he felt the breathing problems were due to a reaction to the Lansoprazole.

Our Client was visited by the Doctor who had given the medication to her mother and apologised as he was not aware of the allergy to the medication.

On Wednesday 24^th February 2016, our Client had noticed that her mother’s lips were extremely sore and crusted. There was skin flapping within her mouth which she had to remove and she asked the Staff Nurse if some lollies and water, to freshen her Mother’s mouth, could be provided. The Staff Nurse returned with some soft white paraffin to put on the lips, some lollies and water which our Client dapped on her mother’s lips and mouth.

On Thursday 25^th February 2016 our Clients’ mother’s mouth was extremely sore and crusted and the lollies she had been using the day before were still on the table just as they had left them.

A short time later a further Doctor came and attended and indicated that he would give her mother something for sickness which he suggested Lansoprazole. This was declined from the family who, again, were in disbelief at the medication suggestion.

Our clients’ mother’s lips were covered in black crusty scales of skin which the family had tried to freshen but without success. The Nurse attempted to gently moisten her lips and sprayed liquid saliva around the inside of her mouth.

The family were told that the prognosis was not good and the Doctors discussed withdrawing treatment and making her mother comfortable. An injection of Morphine and Midazolam was also discussed.

The whole family gathered in the side room and eventually her mother took her final breath. This was at 2.10pm.

BREACH OF DUTY

We alleged that the Defendant’s staff were negligent in that:

 

• The manufacturers product information leaflet states that Lansoprazole should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity and to do so is negligent;

 

• The Defendants Provided lansoprazole when it was recorded that the deceased had known hypersensitivity to that medication;

 

• Failed to clearly articulate the allergy information in medical records;

 

• Failed, on 14^th February 2016, to accurately document allergy information after pantoprazole was prevented from being administered;

 

• Administered a medication contrary to the patient, and her family’s wishes.

CAUSATION

The provision of lansoprazole led to additional pain and suffering over and above that which our Client’s mother could expect to suffer given her pre-existing ailments.

The provision of lansoprazole led to skin irritation, dry mouth and lips and generally increased the distress which the family, and her mother, was experiencing during the relevant period.

CONCLUSION

A Letter of Claim was submitted and a Protocol Letter of Response for all allegations was received. The response provides a complete admission of the allegations put forwards and therefore, settlement achieved in the sum of £2,000.00. The negligence was not causative of the Claimants’ mother’s death.