Florida Refuses Investigation into Infant Heart Surgery Death

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Shapiro Law Group

Over the last several months, we have provided continuous updates about several infant heart surgery deaths at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. In a very sad letter to a mother who lost her baby to one of the infant heart surgery deaths, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (FAHCA) claimed it did not intend to open an investigation. After the death of her child, the mother had filed a complaint with the FAHCA. According to the mother, her child received treatment far below the standard of care.

The FAHCA is responsible for the state Medicaid program and the licensure of 45,000 health care facilities throughout the state of Florida. The organization also handles complaints of fraud and negligence.

Nine babies have died during heart surgery at St. Mary’s in the last four years. A CNN investigative piece suggested infant heart surgery deaths at the hospital were several times that of other hospitals. Last year, Children’s Medical Services, an organization responsible for overseeing child healthcare, told the Department of Health it did not believe St. Mary’s should be performing infant heart surgery.

Florida Surgeon Sued For Infant Heart Surgery Deaths

The head surgeon of the controversial program is now facing a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by a parent who lost her child. Other parents have reportedly filed additional medical malpractice lawsuits. The lawsuits may succeed if it can be shown the deceased children received treatment below the standard of care.

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Tags: FloridaNews

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