Some people would call an $8.25 million settlement in a lawsuit incredibly good news. After all, the money a court has awarded Fritzie and Cameron Burkett is the most ever in Illinois history. But considering the Burketts got the cash from a hospital where their baby boy died, I'm having a hard time putting this one in the "win" column.
Little Genesis Burkett was born four months premature at just 1 pound, 8 ounces. But he was apparently a fighter. He'd sailed right through heart surgery, and then horror struck.
The Burketts' son was administered 60 times the amount of sodium choloride than he should have had in his IV drip. At 40 days old, Genesis died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
Sorry, folks, but $8.25 million doesn't begin to make up for that. I understand why the Burketts sued; this is not a judgment on them. They have been able to demand that the hospital change its practices to ensure that no other parent suffers the awful blow of losing a child because of a stupid mistake. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's what many people who file medical malpractice suits are shooting for.
But if there was ever a case that screams "look, oodles of money doesn't fix everything," this is it folks. This is proof that $8.25 million is about as worthless as a piece of paper to a mom and dad who are grieving. As the couple's attorney told one reporter:
They function. They work. They cry at the drop of a hat when they see small children or a pregnant lady.
The Burketts still lost their son. After 40 days of feeling like he might actually make it and clinging to hope. They are still suffering the worst trauma any parent can imagine. They didn't win anything. They simply didn't lose more.
Would you sue if your child died at a hospital? Why (or why not)?
Image via Ano.Lob @healthyrx/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 100
I know where they're coming from, the money was nice, but I'd of rather had my daughter.
I'm not a lawyer but I think the money is a penalty for the hospital so hopefully they won't make the same mistake. On the other hand it's also money to cover medical costs, mental health treatment if they need it which can be very expensive, and also money for them to live comfortably during this difficult time. I'd hate to lose my job because of my mental state and then have to worry about bills while dealing with the loss...it's really about comfort for those grieving when they SHOULDN'T have to be.
I don't know how they get out of bed in the morning.
When you take money away from an orgnaziation it hurts them. This will force them to do a better job next time.
The board will push the directors to push the managers to push the employees to follow protocol so that htis doesn't happen to anyone.
I completely understand the points that HockeyMom is making. I can't debate them. They're true. However, I think those are things that the personnel in the hospital should have been concerned with before becoming so relaxed in their procedures and decision making that they killed a child. It is not the responsibility of the grieving parents to take one for the team in order to keep costs down. Again, just my opinion.