Nationwide — The parents of Maya Getahun, a 2-year-old girl from Gwinnett County, Georgia, are suing Piedmont Eastside Medical Center after their daughter died following a severe allergic reaction. They claim that ER staff delayed life-saving treatment, which contributed to her death.
The complaint claims ER staff waited 20 minutes before giving her epinephrine, a critical medication used to treat allergic reactions. The lawsuit also accuses a doctor of failing to open Maya’s airways as her condition worsened.
“Maya’s parents looked on helplessly as their daughter slowly died from lack of oxygen,” the lawsuit said, according to 11 Alive.
The family wants a jury trial and is holding the hospital responsible for what they call a preventable death.
“This case is about accountability,” attorney Lloyd Bell said about the complaint. “No family should ever experience the heartbreak of losing a child due to a hospital’s lack of preparation, especially for something as foreseeable as an allergic reaction. Our goal is to obtain full justice for Maya and help ensure that what happened to Maya never happens to another child.”