Parents sue over death of their son
Eva Ruth Moravec, Express-News
By Eva Ruth Moravec - Express-News
Published 12:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 4, 2010Parents of a toddler who died in December after a dental procedure are suing the boy's anesthesiologist and a surgical center, claiming they gave him too much morphine in doses administered too closely together.
After Maddoux Cordova's teeth were capped at the Village Specialty Surgical Center on Dec. 11, Dr. Brian Seastrunk approved giving the 22-month-old two 0.5-milligram doses of morphine intravenously within 10 minutes — a time span that didn't permit medical staff to evaluate how the drug was affecting the patient, the medical malpractice lawsuit claims.
Maddoux stopped breathing at his grandmother's home after the procedure, became brain-dead, and spent two weeks at Wilford Hall Medical Center before he was taken off a ventilator.
“The total 1 milligram dose of morphine administered for pain relief was larger than the conventional recommended pediatric drug dosage range of 0.26 milligrams — 0.65 milligrams for this 13-kilogram patient,” said Dr. Sean Boynes, director of anesthesia research at the University of Pittsburgh, who provided an expert opinion as part of the lawsuit.
The suit was brought on behalf of the parents, Monica Meza and Adam Cordova. Alleged damages include monetary loss, loss of companionship and mental anguish.
Monetary damages are sought for medical and funeral expenses, pain, suffering and mental anguish, the lawsuit states. No dollar amount for damages is specified, in accordance with laws that govern medical malpractice cases.
James Veal, who represents Seastrunk, could not be reached for comment.
The center's spokeswoman, Misty Walton, said the facility has not been served.
“We are not aware of a lawsuit at this time,” Walton wrote in an e-mail. “Everyone associated with our surgery center was deeply saddened by the death of this child, and we continue to keep the family in our thoughts and prayers.”
The Texas Medical Board doesn't track medical malpractice cases but does discipline doctors of patients who died from overdoses or reactions to anesthesia or pain medication.
Parents sue over death of their son - San Antonio Express-News
