Ten Year Old Child's Death Associated with Antibiotic Therapy
Nathan Oliver Swilley died of complications a month after stepping on a nail while hiding Easter Eggs on April 14, 2001. After spending eleven days in the hospital Nathan was released on April 25, 2001 while on an excessive regime of antibiotics which were to be administered at home by Nathan's mother. By Mother's Day of that same year Nathan was dead. Two pediatric doctors prescribed antibiotics for a suspected infection resulting from the puncture wound. The physicians failed to warn Nathan and his mother of the potential damage to the kidneys and liver, nor did they tell them that Nathan's blood needed to be monitored for signs of toxicity. His condition worsened and Nathan was readmitted to the hospital on May 8, 2001 as a result of kidney and liver failure. Nathan's mother sued and was recently awarded $30 million dollars in June of 2004. Nathan's mother's attorney had offered to settle for the policy limits of the doctors involved. His offer to settle was refused by the doctor's defense team. An appeal is expected.
Citing: Case Number: 48-2002-CA-002410-O; 9th District Court; Orange County Florida; WALLACE, CHRISTINA MARIE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE {ESTATE OF NATHAN OLIVER SWILLEY DECEASED } ET AL .vs. VIVEK S DESAI MD ET AL
Citing: 30 Million Awarded In Death
The Associated Press / Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 1, 2004
Tampa Florida
Whether or not the fluoroquinolones were responsible for this tragedy remains to be seen as only one of the antibiotics used had been disclosed (Gentamicin). However, there is no question that the scripting abuse that surrounds the careless use of antibiotics surely is.
The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation continues to collect post-marketing reports regarding the fatalities that have been associated with the fluoroquinolones, as well as the non-abating nature of the severe and crippling adverse drug reactions via the Internet. Since the research forum went on line in August of 2003, the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Forum hosted by Yahoo has received hundreds of reports, including numerous associated fatalities. The homepage for the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation, www.fqresearch.org has accumulated over 4000 medical journal entries, newspaper articles, post marketing reports, lawsuits and other such supporting data the clearly shows the rampant ignorance and denial within the medical community regarding the non-abating nature of such events.
For more than forty years, since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, the victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been subjected to the same scripting abuse as Nathan with the same tragic results, as their physicians have routinely failed to recognize, treat and report such events. Sudden death, liver, kidney and heart failure, peripheral neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture, severe and non abating joint and tendon damage, resulting from such toxicity, are all known, listed and published adverse drug reactions to these chemotherapeutic agents, commonly referred to as fluoroquinolones or quinolones. Yet the victims continue to be told by their physicians "it cannot be the drug". Such gross ignorance could very well of been a contributing factor to this young man's death. How many more must die before something is done to prevent additional tragedies?
Little did Nathan know that at the time of his birth, yet another fluoroquinolone drug might have received approval by the FDA. One has to wonder whether or not this class of chemotherapeutic agents was responsible for this preventable tragedy. We may never know the answer to that question as the newspaper article that reported on Nathan's demise failed to indicate what antibiotics were responsible for his untimely death. Within the original complaint filed in this case it is stated "...orders for intravenous administration of antibiotics, including gentamicin..." But as to what the other antibiotics were is not disclosed. But Nathan death is far from being an isolated event. The most recent fatality being the death of the daughter of one member of the research forum, whose death was the direct result of such careless scripting of these toxic and dangerous drugs: the fluoroquinolones.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence of such preventable deaths and injuries, the FDA continues to approve new drugs within this class together with new indications for those already on the market. Ignoring the 5,276 reports that include 473 associated deaths and 19,792 total reactions found within the AERS reports for Levofloxacin. Together with the 4,995 reports which include 480 associated deaths and 20,890 total reactions for Ciprofloxacin found within the AERS reports as well. Almost fifty percent of such chemotherapeutic agents have been removed from clinical practice or their use severely curtailed, due to toxicity issues. Yet I rather doubt that you will find Nathan's death being reported to the FDA. Even in the event that such a report was made you will not find the FDA taking heed. Nathan's just another lost angel within the archives.
Nathan however appears to have paid the ultimate price for something as simple as a minor puncture wound that most of us would not of even bothered to seek medical care for. The jury award will do nothing to bring him back. Nor will it deter other physicians from making the very same mistakes.
Having been betrayed by his Physicians, his Government, and the FDA, I rather doubt that Nathan will be without additional playmates within the very near future. The FDA has recently approved clinical studies involving the pediatric population and fluoroquinolones, with patients as young as six months of age. One has to wonder whether or not your child will be joining Nathan in the very near future as the next victim in this new pediatric population approved by the FDA. An innocent child, who's death will be the direct result of the careless scripting of antibiotics. Yet another lawsuit(s) in the making. As stated previously there has been no confirmation that the fluoroquinolones had anything to do with this tragedy. But the failure to properly monitor a patient while undergoing antibiotic therapy is cited as being one of the numerous neglignece claims made within the original complaint. The modern physician's attitude that "...the antibiotic may not do any good but they won't do any harm..." has claimed yet another victim
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About the Author
The foundation is a non profit organization consisting of those who have suffered irreversible and non-abating injury as a direct result of fluoroquinolone therapy. The foundation is dedicated to presenting the research regarding these issues in the hope of preventing such injury to others and to make such research readily available to those who have shown a prior interest. We strive to present accurate and up to date information to the victims of such scripting abuse so that they may be in a position to receive the medical care such rampant ignorance has denied them. Such documentation is readily available via the forum or the homepage www.fqresearch.org
Contact Information
D Fuller
Director
The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
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