Catherine Henry Lawyers’ health law team settled a claim for a large sum on behalf of a successful businessman and talented musician whose life has been forever altered by excessive doses of Gentamicin administered to him in hospital.
What is Gentamicin?
Gentamicin is a powerful antibiotic for fighting infection that belongs to a class of drugs called aminoglycosides. Its devastating side effects are well known to medical professionals, which include being toxic to the ear and destructive to the kidneys.
Our client got too little, then too much Gentamicin
Our client had an epididymitis infection. He was prescribed antibiotics by his GP but his condition got worse.
He went to a local regional hospital where he was given two doses of Gentamicin, but they were not appropriate (insufficient) for his weight. The treatment was ineffective.
Our client was sent to a metropolitan hospital in Brisbane. But there he was given excessive doses of Gentamicin. He developed symptoms indicative of ototoxicity – dizziness vertigo, feelings of intoxication and difficulties with balance.
Hospital staff failed to note the significant side effects our client was experiencing, as well as his change in his demeanour. They continued to treat him with a total of 2040mg of Gentamicin over a six-day period. This cumulatively poisoned our client. Typically, the recommended treatment dose for infections of the kind experienced by our client is between 3mg/kg/day to 5mg/kg/day.
As a result, our client developed ototoxicity and permanent bilateral vestibular dysfunction. He suffers from dizziness, impaired hearing and loss of balance.
Our case for compensation
We successfully argued that both hospitals breached their duty of care. The local hospital’s inadequate dosage had no impact on our client’s condition requiring him to get further treatment. The metropolitan hospital neglected to treat our client with reasonable care and skill and administered Gentamicin in excessive doses.
At no time during his admission to hospital was our client advised of the risks or side effects posed by the powerful antibiotic (the risk of ototoxicity) or alternative treatments.
Our claim was to compensate him for having to endure ongoing symptoms as well as the embarrassment and social isolation he experiences. He is unable to perform musically as he once did, and has difficulties running his business. Ultimately, he has lost his enjoyment for life.
Let us fight for you or your loved one
If you or a loved one have experienced the negative impacts of Gentamicin or poor medical treatment at the hands of a medical practitioner, please get in touch with one of our caring, expert, health lawyers about the options available to you.
Taking legal action can also help change health care practices and hold health care professionals to account so other people do not have to experience what you went through.
