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Family Sues Kaiser & Local Nursing Home Over Fatal Mistake

Woman Was Given Wrong Medicine, Despite Her Protests

Sacramento, California - A Sacramento family is suing Kaiser Hospital and Heritage Convalescent Hospital for wrongful death, negligence and elder abuse after medical staff gave the wrong drug to patient Bessie Chaise for 18 days leading up to her death.

"This is clearly a case where the health care system failed. Someone made a grave error, and there were no checks and balances in place to detect the mistake," said John Demas of Demas & Rosenthal law firm. "For nearly three weeks, the victim was given a drug she was allergic to, denied medicine she needed and ignored when she complained. Her family wants answers and for someone to take responsibility."

The state's Department of Health Services investigated the case and cited Heritage for its treatment of Chasie. Investigators confirmed Chasie told staff at least twice that she was allergic to the medicine and should not be taking it.

"This has been devastating. We lost our mother, saw her suffer, struggling for air in the end and hallucinating," said Artallius Derlantiss, Chasie's son. "We desperately trying to understand how this could happen and to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else."

Chasie's symptoms, and ultimately her death, resulted from being given the wrong medicine, which she was allergic to, and from being denied the medicine her doctor had prescribed.

Chasie was a patient at Heritage Convalescent Hospital in October 2002 when she was briefly admitted to Kaiser Medical Center to be treated for shortness of breath. Her doctor prescribed medicine to prevent fluid retention, and Chasie was released back to Heritage. However, the name of the medicine was written incorrectly in the transfer, and as a result, Chasie was given a drug she was allergic to for nearly three weeks before she died.

The lawsuit was filed with the California Superior Court today in Sacramento by Demas & Rosenthal on behalf of Chasie's children, Derlantiss, Mae Jameson, Jacques Crane and Veronica Scrivener.

The suit names Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente Medical and Heritage Convalescent Hospital.

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