Jury Awards $215,000 to Families Exposed to Aspergillus Mold at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle Children’s Hospital has been ordered to pay $215,000 to three families whose children were exposed to Aspergillus mold in the hospital’s operating rooms. This verdict comes after the families filed a class-action lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of negligence in maintaining and cleaning its air-handling and purification systems. The families are the first of 77 plaintiffs to go to trial, and their victory sets a precedent for the remaining cases.
The lawsuit alleges that Seattle Children’s Hospital failed to take proper precautions to prevent the exposure of patients to Aspergillus mold. The fungus has been a recurring problem at the hospital for over 20 years. Attorney Karen Koehler, who represents the patients and their families, stated that the jury’s award confirms that the hospital injured and traumatized its child patients and harmed the parents’ relationships with their children.
Last fall, the hospital admitted negligence in exposing patients to Aspergillus in its cardiac and neurosurgery operating rooms. The purpose of this trial was to settle damages for the affected families. The class includes patients who were not infected by the mold but underwent months of treatment and blood tests after their exposure. While not all 77 families may choose to go to trial, some cases involving those infected have already been settled.
Seattle Children’s Hospital has accepted responsibility for the potential exposure in its operating rooms and has expressed its commitment to the health and safety of its patients. However, the families involved in the lawsuit believe that there was lasting harm done to their children, even if they were not infected or did not die.
Lead plaintiff Jen Mills shared her experience of anxiety and distress throughout the ordeal. The notification process was confusing and disconcerting, with a vague letter initially assuring them that their child was not at risk. Two weeks later, they received a call informing them that their daughter needed preventive antifungal treatment and weekly blood draws for four months. Mills described the process as traumatic and highlighted the challenges of administering medication to a baby who had undergone heart surgery.
The families awarded damages have children with various medical conditions who required surgeries and subsequent treatment after exposure to Aspergillus. The medication caused side effects such as vomiting, bloating, and lethargy. Despite the successful recovery of their children, the families still have concerns about the hospital’s ability to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Seattle Children’s Hospital has implemented new air-handling and air-filtration systems since 2019. However, the families hope for greater accountability and improvement from the hospital administration. They emphasize that their intention is not to bring the hospital down but to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
The verdict in this case serves as a significant milestone for the remaining plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit against Seattle Children’s Hospital. It highlights the importance of maintaining proper precautions and cleanliness in healthcare facilities to protect vulnerable patients. The families involved hope that their victory will lead to improved practices and a safer environment for all patients at the hospital.
