Man Sues Hospital for Injecting Him with Green Dye

Last Friday, a 34-year-old man filed a lawsuit against Northwestern Memorial Hospital for accidentally injecting him with a green dye normally used to color clothing during a procedure, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Elijah Goodwin claims that the mistake has caused him permanent lung damage, and that he has developed a seizure disorder as a result. His attorney says that his client will be on prescription drugs for the rest of life to counter the effects.

According to the filings, Goodwin visited the hospital’s emergency room after developing a headache and neck pain on April 10, 2010. Doctors diagnosed Goodwin with an intracranial aneurysm and scheduled a surgery for the next day.

During a post-operative angiogram, hospital staff mistakenly injected the man with “Brilliant Green dye,” often used to color wool, silk, and other fabrics. The dye is “extremely poisonous,” Goodwin asserts in his filings.

Goodwin claims that the mistake has caused him a host of medical problems, including reduced lung capacity, permanent scarring of the lungs, and a seizure disorder that periodically shuts down his kidneys.

While the mistake may seem bizarre, it’s not quite as outlandish as it appears. Doctors use a fluorescent dye called “IC Green” during angiograms. A pharmacy tech likely pulled the Brilliant Green dye believing it to be IC Green.

Goodwin’s attorney says the mistake is inexcusable. Brilliant Green dye does not have FDA packaging, he asserts. Also, the dye with which Goodwin was injected was in liquid form, while IC green comes in powder form.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional’s negligent act or omission causes harm to the patient.  When the defendant is a hospital, the court often looks at  the employee training, safety precautions, and standard of care employed by the hospital.

Elijah Goodwin is seeking at least $ 450,000 in damages for his medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages that have resulted from him being injected with the green dye.

Related Resources:

Find a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney (FindLaw)
Lawsuit: Chicago Patient Injected with Green Dye (Chicago Tribune)
Proving Fault in Medical Malpractice Cases (FindLaw)

The Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog

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