Mary Ann Stoddard was admitted to the hospital’s telemetry unit and placed on a diltiazem drip to treat tachycardia in late 2008. The local coroner’s office reported an overdose of diltiazem contributed to Ms. Stoddard’s death. According to the report, the hospital also submitted a report to the coroner’s officer that confirmed a medication error contributed to her death.
The lawsuit alleged caregivers at Providence St. Peter Hospital failed to follow hospital protocol, which required the diltiazem drip to be reduced or stopped if a patient’s heart rate drops below 60 beats per minute.
The hospital has not commented on the lawsuit.
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