In June 2016, our client, Robert Dunkin was a 47 year old man who began experiencing right side back pain in late evening hours. He was taken to a Broward County Hospital Emergency room where he had clear signs of a kidney stone and an ongoing infection. He had decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, elevated respiratory rate, abnormal white blood count and fever. All of these abnormal vital signs were symptoms of sepsis or blood infection which requires the hospital to institute a rapid response protocol for the treatment of this condition. The protocol was not activated and the patient was transferred to a regular room without ordering blood cultures, urinalysis or other tests which would have confirmed a severe systemic inflammatory infection. Over the next 24 hours, Mr. Dunkin laid in the hospital and his organs began to fail. He passed away the following day. The hospital settled the claim shortly following the presuit process resulting in prompt compensation to the family.
