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Lutheran General to pay $8.25 million in baby's death

A Chicago couple whose infant son died from an overdose of sodium chloride at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital settled their wrongful death suit against the Park Ridge facility Thursday for $8.25 million.

Genesis Burkett weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces. when he was born prematurely at 24 weeks on Sept. 6, 2010, but he had been making progress and doctors had discussed the possibility of him going home from for Christmas, said attorney Patrick A. Salvi, who represented parents Fritzie and Cameron Burkett in their lawsuit against the hospital.

In what Salvi called “clearly an avoidable mistake,” the baby — who was being treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit — died on Oct. 15, 2010, after receiving an intravenous bag filled with 60 times the dose ordered by his physician.

“If the case had gone to trial the jury would know that the death was caused by negligence,” Salvi said.

The hospital determined that a “data entry error was made in the formulation of the IV solution. The dosage of sodium for an IV bag from an order had been incorrectly entered into the machine that mixes IV solutions,” said spokesman Greg Alford in a prepared statement, in which he stated Lutheran General personnel's “thoughts and prayers remain with the family.”

When the baby's blood test showed elevated sodium levels, the resident physician thought it was a mistake and ordered another test but didn't order it be completed immediately, said Salvi. Genesis died before a second test was performed, he said.

Salvi praised the hospital's prompt response in acknowledging the mistake and the ethical manner in which officials investigated the death.

“They were upfront with the Burketts about what happened,” he said.

“We have taken comprehensive steps across Advocate to ensure this type of tragedy does not happen again,” said Alford, who did not elaborate on the safeguards the hospital has implemented.

However, Salvi indicated they include pharmacists double-checking IV bags before they leave the pharmacy to ensure the label reflects the contents. Additionally, when a physician suspects a mistake in a blood test and orders another, the second test must be performed immediately, Salvi said.

As for the Burketts, “they function,” Salvi said. “They work. They cry at the drop of a hat when they see small children or a pregnant lady.”

Salvi said the Burketts experienced difficulty getting pregnant with Genesis, and they are reluctant to have other children.

“You don't want to relive this if you've been through it. Whether it's rational or not, you have a mistrust of the health care system,” Salvi said.

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