Respiratory Depression or Arrest Caused by Medication Errors: What You Need to Know
Respiratory depression is a condition in which breathing becomes dangerously slow or shallow. If left untreated, it can progress to respiratory arrest, which means a person stops breathing entirely. Without immediate intervention, respiratory arrest can result in brain injury, cardiac arrest, and death. These events often happen suddenly and without warning—making them medical emergencies that require prompt and skilled response. Tragically, some cases of respiratory depression or arrest are entirely preventable and may be the result of medical negligence.
Understanding the Causes of Respiratory Depression or Arrest
There are many potential causes of respiratory depression or arrest, including brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and severe infections. However, one of the most common—and most preventable—causes in hospitalized patients is the improper administration of medications. Opioids, sedatives, benzodiazepines, and certain anesthetics can all depress the central nervous system and slow the body’s drive to breathe. When these drugs are given in excessive doses, or in combination without careful monitoring, the results can be deadly.
Is Respiratory Depression or Arrest Always Caused By Malpractice?
Not every instance of respiratory depression or arrest is the result of medical malpractice. Some patients are at higher risk due to underlying conditions or necessary treatments. However, when healthcare providers fail to recognize known risks, ignore signs of respiratory compromise, administer inappropriate doses of medication, or fail to monitor patients properly, they may be legally responsible for the harm that follows. In those cases, a malpractice lawsuit may be appropriate.
How Medication Errors Can Lead to Preventable Respiratory Failure
Medication errors are a leading cause of preventable harm in hospitals and healthcare settings. These errors include giving the wrong medication, administering the correct drug at the wrong dose, combining medications with dangerous interactions, or failing to consider a patient’s weight, age, or medical history when prescribing or dispensing medications.
In the context of respiratory depression or arrest, several types of medication errors may be to blame:
- Overdose of opioids: Common pain medications like morphine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), or fentanyl can suppress breathing if given in excessive amounts, particularly in opioid-naïve patients.
- Failure to account for interactions: Combining opioids with benzodiazepines (like Ativan or Valium) or with sleep medications (like Ambien) can drastically increase the risk of respiratory depression.
- Lack of monitoring: Hospitals often fail to use continuous pulse oximetry or capnography to monitor patients receiving respiratory-depressing medications. As a result, providers may not detect a patient’s declining respiratory status in time.
- Failure to respond to warning signs: Nurses and doctors may ignore or downplay early symptoms such as low oxygen saturation, shallow breathing, or decreased responsiveness—missing the opportunity to prevent respiratory arrest.
When Can a Malpractice Lawsuit Be Filed?
A lawsuit for medical malpractice related to respiratory depression or arrest may be appropriate when the injury or death could have been prevented with reasonable medical care. In Pennsylvania and many other states, a patient or family may have a valid claim if the following elements are present:
- A provider-patient relationship existed, creating a duty of care;
- The provider breached the standard of care by making a preventable error or omission;
- The breach directly caused the patient’s injury or death; and
- The patient or family suffered damages as a result (such as permanent injury, loss of life, or financial harm).
Often, expert medical testimony is required to establish what the standard of care was and how it was violated. If you or your loved one suffered harm following a medication-related respiratory event, it’s critical to speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who can investigate your case.
Real Case Examples: Respiratory Depression or Arrest Caused by Medical Errors
Numerous malpractice claims across the country have involved respiratory depression or arrest due to improper medication use or monitoring. Here are three documented examples:
- Massachusetts – $1.75 Million Settlement: A patient with COPD and heart failure underwent cervical spine surgery and was given opioids post-operatively. She became lethargic and hypoxic, yet staff failed to escalate care. The next morning, she was found in respiratory and cardiac arrest. The family alleged that nurses and a physician assistant failed to respond to signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression. Lubin & Meyer represented the family, and the case settled for $1.75 million.
- Michigan – Lawsuit Filed After Quadriplegia: In Piotrowski v. William Beaumont Hospital, a patient was given phenobarbital, Dilaudid, and Xanax. Though she was ordered to be monitored, hospital staff allegedly ignored alarms indicating falling oxygen levels. She suffered a respiratory arrest, resulting in cardiac arrest and permanent brain damage, leaving her quadriplegic. Sommers Schwartz filed the case, citing negligent medication use and delayed response to respiratory compromise.
- Kentucky – $5 Million Verdict (2022): A jury in Kentucky awarded $5 million to a patient who suffered hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure during a surgical procedure. The claim alleged anesthesia negligence and failure to properly monitor the patient, leading to aspiration pneumonia, septic shock, kidney injury, and long-term complications. The verdict held multiple parties liable for poor intraoperative care.
These cases demonstrate how breaches in medication safety and patient monitoring can lead to catastrophic—and often permanent—injuries. They also show that when healthcare professionals fail to meet the standard of care, courts and juries may hold them financially accountable.
What to Do If You Suspect Malpractice
If your loved one suffered respiratory depression or arrest while under medical care—and especially if you believe a medication error or monitoring failure was involved—it is important to act quickly. Medical records should be preserved and reviewed by qualified experts. At Lupetin & Unatin, our Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys have extensive experience investigating complex medication error cases and holding negligent providers accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation. We will help you understand your legal options and determine whether a malpractice claim is appropriate.