A Florida-based hospital is facing a lawsuit over the alleged wrongful death of a 2-year-old boy, De’Markus Page, due to a medical error. The lawsuit claims that the hospital staff administered a dose of potassium phosphate that was ten times higher than the prescribed amount, leading to the boy’s death. The family alleges that a crucial decimal point was omitted from the boy’s chart, resulting in the fatal overdose.
The family’s attorney, Jordan Dulcie, expressed his grief over the incident, stating that no parent should have to experience such a loss. The lawsuit has been filed against UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Florida. The family is seeking justice for De’Markus’ death, which occurred in March 2024, alleging “wrongful death medical negligence.”
De’Markus was initially treated for a virus at AdventHealth Ocala hospital before being transferred to Shands. The lawsuit describes him as an “active toddler” with minor speech and developmental delays. He was also suspected of having a degree of autism. His family alleges that his selective eating habits made him more susceptible to fluid and electrolyte imbalances if he contracted common childhood illnesses.
Upon his arrival at Shands, the hospital staff ordered an oral potassium phosphate dosage of 1.5 millimoles twice a day. However, on the second day of his hospitalization, a doctor allegedly entered an incorrect order for the medication, increasing the dosage tenfold. This occurred despite De’Markus’ potassium levels returning to normal that morning.
The lawsuit alleges that the doctor failed to acknowledge or deliberately overlooked De’Markus’ normal potassium level, resulting in an order for a dangerously high dosage of potassium phosphate. The toddler was already receiving potassium through two other methods, making the high dosage unnecessary and potentially harmful.
The family alleges that the original dosage was calculated based on De’Markus’ size, weight, and lab results from his first day at the hospital. The hospital staff allegedly failed to identify and rectify the error, leading to complications.
The lawsuit further claims that the lack of proper emergency equipment and blood monitoring of electrolytes on the pediatric floor resulted in De’Markus going into cardiac arrest due to high potassium levels. The hospital staff allegedly did not notice the situation for at least 20 minutes and struggled to intubate De’Markus properly.
Despite regaining circulation and cardiac activity, the damage to De’Markus’ brain and other vital organs was severe. He spent the next two weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit, dependent on a ventilator, before succumbing to his injuries. The family’s attorney has vowed to hold the hospital accountable and prevent such a tragedy from happening to another family. The hospital has yet to comment on the allegations.