Loss of life of lady after 7-hour ER wait ‘not attributable to negligence,’ N.S. well being authority says
The Nova Scotia Well being Authority is requesting {that a} lawsuit over the dying of a affected person late final 12 months be dismissed, saying her dying was not because of negligence on its half.
The household of Allison Holthoff filed the civil lawsuit final month, alleging the well being authority was negligent in failing to satisfy requirements of care.
It additionally names the attending emergency room doctor as a defendant.
Holthoff, a 37-year-old mom of three, died on the Cumberland Regional Well being Care Centre emergency room on New 12 months’s Eve following a seven-hour anticipate care.
Learn extra:
Household of N.S. lady who died after 7-hour ER wait suing well being authority
The lawsuit stated she reported “excessive ache within the higher left aspect of her stomach, laboured respiration and nausea” and died from an untreated splenic artery aneurysm.
It claimed her husband, Gunter, repeatedly raised issues about Holthoff’s situation however she remained “largely unattended.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified particular, pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. The allegations haven’t been confirmed in courtroom.
Learn extra:
N.S. lady dies after ready 7 hours in hospital ER, household calls for solutions
Based on a discover of defence filed Feb. 28, the Nova Scotia Well being Authority stated any harm, loss or injury sustained by the plaintiff “was not attributable to negligence” on the a part of the well being authority, or anybody for whom they’re accountable.
“(NSHA) says that any care offered by them to Allison Holthoff was offered fairly, appropriately and in a way in keeping with the relevant customary of care within the circumstances,” it stated.
The discover of defence stated the well being authority “particularly denies” allegations in a single part of the lawsuit, which claims the defendant, in addition to its brokers and workers, breached their responsibility of care by:
- Failing to conduct acceptable testing in a well timed method, and/or ignored vital findings on testing;
- Failing to adequately triage Holthoff;
- Failing to rule out potential diagnoses that posed a severe danger to Holthoff;
- Failing to replace or change Holthoff’s triage rating as her situation declined;
- Failing to convey Holthoff’s “pressing and distressed state” to a doctor’s consideration;
- Failing to satisfy the usual of care in supervising and monitoring Holthoff and her signs.
The discover of defence didn’t provide an alternate timeline of occasions of the evening Holthoff died.
“The Defendant Well being Authority places the Plaintiff to the strict proof of damages,” it stated, and requested the motion be dismissed with prices.
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