In 2010, a settlement was reached in the malpractice case regarding a man whose post-operative anesthesia had caused a fatal episode of his sleep apnea. His wife had brought his medical device to the hospital, but it was not used. This unfortunate gentleman lapsed into a coma and died 24 hours later.

The hospital agreed to pay the widow over $500,000.  The settlement notes indicate that “this was a classic case of a nurse not being aware of the dangers of post-op medications for parents with sleep apnea, and the need for careful monitoring of the patients.”

If you or a loved one fail to communicate a medical condition to your healthcare provider, you put yourself at risk.  Take the time to ensure that your medical providers (and your family members!) know all your current conditions, medications and supplements.