Details Surrounding The Death Of Mrs. Alfred In Memorial Regional Hospital

The case to be presented involves the details surrounding the death of Mrs. Ursuline Alfred while under the care of the Hollywood Medical Center, now named Memorial Regional Hospital South, on May 18, 1996. Mrs. Ursuline was a forty-five year old female believed to have suffered a seizure in her home at approximately 1930. She was found on the floor by her husband, after shouting “My head”, in a coma-like state. Mr. Alfred activated EMS and the patient was transported to HMC immediately. While in transport, Mrs. Alfred recovered and EMS recorded “near normal” vitals at 0800 per the District Court of Appeals of the State of Florida (2012). Per EMS records, the patient was delivered to the Emergency Department at 2008. According to hospital records, Mrs. Alfred was not assessed by hospital staff until 2016 leaving a recorded lapse in care of

Schillinger. Mrs. Alfred’s husband filed suit against the hospital, citing lack of care as the cause of death. Expert nurses and emergency physicians reviewed the case and testified had Mrs. Alfred been properly classified, intubated immediately, and not given Valium due to her severe bradycardia and hypotension, she may have survived the event. Given the fact no autopsy was performed, the experts were only able to hypothesize Mrs. Alfred died as a result of a pulmonary embolism. The experts testified both Dr. Schillinger and Nurse Ackerly performed below the standards of care. The initial ruling was in favor of the plantiff, Mr. Alfred, however the Florida State Supreme Court later overturned that ruling, finding insufficient evidence to support the claim that the absence of valium as well as an immediate intubation would have changed the outcome. The specifics of the case can be reviewed at the following website: