California Woman Awarded $3.1 Million in Morphine Overdose Case
Barbara Lefforge
Barbara Lefforge was at St. Edna Subacute & Rehabilitation Center in Santa Ana, California a mere 5 1/2 hours when she was accidentally overdosed on morphine.
Lefforge went to St. Edna on September 17, 2007 after a tendon repair surgery. Her podiatrist prescribed 50 mg of morphine for pain instead of 50 mg of Demerol. According to her attorney, the medication error should have been noted by facility staff. Reportedly, the pharmacist warned that the prescribed dosage was too high. Nurses at the facility were unable to administer the full dose, so 30 mg was obtained from an office emergency kit and administered. Lefforge suffered an overdose, but no one monitored her or took her to the hospital. By the time Lefforge reached a hospital, she was barely breathing and had already suffered a brain injury.
A jury deliberated for two days before returning a unanimous verdict that St. Edna was 90% responsible for the damages fifty-seven year old Lefforge suffered and her physician, Wesley Kobayashi, was responsible for 10%. She was awarded $2 million for pain and suffering and $1.1 for medical costs. Punitive damages were also awarded and a hearing on those damages is set for August 24, 2010.
St. Edna Subacute & Rehabilitation Center is one of 25 California Covenant Care facilities.
