August Dean Elliott died last September after being admitted to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center for a cardiac arrhythmia. According to the suit, the nurse who treated him, Jeffrey Smith, failed to check the dosage of the medicine ordered by the doctor. The baby died within hours of receiving an adult dose of saline solution infused with potassium phosphate.
According to the Twin Falls Times-News, the baby’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against Smith, who is a traveling registered nurse. Back in January, Twin Falls County prosecutors decided not to charge him with a crime. County prosecutor Grant Loebs said that although the baby’s death was preventable, Smith’s actions didn’t constitute criminal negligence.
The Times-News reports that about 40 traveling nurses were on staff at the hospital last fall. The civil lawsuit also names the California company that placed Smith at St. Luke’s.
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