Outsourced hospital discharge results in patient’s death

More and more these days medical procedures are being outsourced by hospitals, sometimes to countries halfway around the world. On March 18, 2008, Sharron Juno was discharged from an Alabama hospital with her discharge summary – unknown to her treating physician — outsourced by the hospital and ultimately transcribed in India. The transcript and various paperwork contained critical errors, including one that prescribed insulin at 10 times the proper dosage. The medication caused brain damage and resulting cardiopulmonary arrest.  Sharon Juno died nine days later. News reports of the case noted recently that a jury hearing the case  in Baldwin County returned a wrongful death verdict against Thomas Hospital and awarded $140 million to Juno’s family. Learn more about medical malpractice lawsuits.