MEDIA – A Bucks County woman has filed a medical malpractice suit against a trio of entities affiliated with the Crozer Health System, after alleging that they did not properly observe her daughter upon admission and as a result, caused her to die of a pulmonary embolism.
Kisha Ramsden, Administratrix of the Estate of Jaylina Ramsden, deceased (on behalf of said decedent’s heirs-at-law and next-of-kin, and in her own right) of Levittown filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on June 9 versus Prospect CCMC, LLC (doing business as “Crozer-Chester Medical Center”) of Upland, Prospect Crozer, LLC (doing business as “Crozer-Keystone Health System and/or Crozer Health”) and Prospect DCMH, LLC (doing business as “Crozer Health”), both of Springfield.
“Jaylina Ramsden was 23 years old and had a prior history of Bipolar 1 disorder, anxiety, depression, anemia and hypernatremia. Ramsden was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric facility of Crozer-Chester Medical Center on Feb. 4, 2020 for management of her psychiatric condition. A physician ordered 1:1 observation throughout her inpatient stay at Crozer-Chester Medical Center for her safety,” the suit says.
“1:1 observation is when a dedicated staff member is assigned to the patient and there is continuous observation of the patient. 1:1 observation did not occur as had been ordered by the physician; Ramsden went unobserved for a period of time on Feb. 9, 2020.”
On Feb. 9, 2020, a late entry in the electronic record, at or about 9:30 p.m., by Nurse Colleen O’Donnell, documents that O’Donnell went into Ramsden’s room to check her blood sugar level and found her lying on her left side and unresponsive.
“O’Donnell further documented that Ramsden was not breathing nor did she have a pulse. Her tongue had a ‘bluish’ appearance. Her hand was cool to touch and appeared mottled. Resuscitative efforts were commenced; oxygen was provided, and a defibrillator was applied. CPR continued until the arrival of EMS. Ramsden was intubated by EMS, epinephrine was given and she was transported to the emergency department at Crozer-Chester Medical Center,” per the suit.
“Upon her arrival to the emergency department, Ramsden was found to be in asystolic cardiac arrest and received ACLS, which included epinephrine, calcium gluconate and 2 ampules of sodium bicarbonate. Ramsden was pronounced deceased at 9:35 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2020. The death certificate lists Ramsden’s cause of death as acute pulmonary thromboembolism.”
The Crozer-Chester Medical Center Emergency Department electronic records document that Ramsden had been last observed at 7:30 p.m. 39. There is no explanation in the records for the lack of 1:1 continuous observation of Ramsden, despite 1:1 observation having been ordered by the physician.
“There is no explanation in the records for failing to comply with the physician’s order for 1:1 observation of Ramsden. Had Ramsden been observed as ordered, she would have been found at a time when resuscitative efforts would have been successful,” the suit says.
For counts of willful misconduct and/or gross negligence, corporate negligence, survival and wrongful death, the plaintiff is seeking, jointly and severally, compensatory damages in excess of the arbitration limits of Delaware County at the time this cause of action was commenced.
The plaintiff is represented by Steven G. Wigrizer, Mary T. Gidaro and Jason S. Weiss of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, in Philadelphia.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case CV-2021-005184
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com