A widower has filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines alleging a crew
member gave his wife an enema for her critical bowel obstruction instead of finding and notifying the ships medical staff.
According to the federally filed lawsuit, John Showers and his wife Victoria boarded the Carnival Dream for a Caribbean cruise. The next day, Victoria became constipated, and purchased over-the- counter laxatives in Cozumel. The following morning, Victoria was unable to walk and was in severe pain. When John and Victoria went to the medical clinic onboard, an unidentified crew member was filling in for the RN on duty. The crew member gave Victoria more enema's and told the Showers' to return to the clinic at 3:30 when the doctor would be in.
The lawsuit says that the doctor performed an examination, determined Victoria had a bowel obstruction and that she must immediately be taken ashore for emergency treatment. The lawsuit says that "The doctor represented that the hospital in Belize was 'a good hospital to which they sent sick crew members for medical care when sickbay couldn't handle the problem.' "Contrary to the doctor's representations, and as later confirmed by the United States State Department, and known to Carnival and Bulajic, the availability of advanced medical treatment in Belize is limited, even in Belize City.”
The lawsuit says that on November 4, 2010 Victoria had to be air flighted to Miami, where physicians determined “peritoneal contamination of her abdomen gave Victoria virtually no chance of survival.” Victoria underwent numerous surgical procedures and treatments, however, she died December 22, 2010.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages from Carnival Cruise Lines for negligence and wrongful death, and from the unidentified crew member and on duty doctor and nurse for medical negligence.
Medical Malpractice Law News Brought To You By Spokane Medical Malpractice & Wrongful Death Attorney - Stephen Haskell Law Offices, PLLC
member gave his wife an enema for her critical bowel obstruction instead of finding and notifying the ships medical staff.
According to the federally filed lawsuit, John Showers and his wife Victoria boarded the Carnival Dream for a Caribbean cruise. The next day, Victoria became constipated, and purchased over-the- counter laxatives in Cozumel. The following morning, Victoria was unable to walk and was in severe pain. When John and Victoria went to the medical clinic onboard, an unidentified crew member was filling in for the RN on duty. The crew member gave Victoria more enema's and told the Showers' to return to the clinic at 3:30 when the doctor would be in.
The lawsuit says that the doctor performed an examination, determined Victoria had a bowel obstruction and that she must immediately be taken ashore for emergency treatment. The lawsuit says that "The doctor represented that the hospital in Belize was 'a good hospital to which they sent sick crew members for medical care when sickbay couldn't handle the problem.' "Contrary to the doctor's representations, and as later confirmed by the United States State Department, and known to Carnival and Bulajic, the availability of advanced medical treatment in Belize is limited, even in Belize City.”
The lawsuit says that on November 4, 2010 Victoria had to be air flighted to Miami, where physicians determined “peritoneal contamination of her abdomen gave Victoria virtually no chance of survival.” Victoria underwent numerous surgical procedures and treatments, however, she died December 22, 2010.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages from Carnival Cruise Lines for negligence and wrongful death, and from the unidentified crew member and on duty doctor and nurse for medical negligence.
Medical Malpractice Law News Brought To You By Spokane Medical Malpractice & Wrongful Death Attorney - Stephen Haskell Law Offices, PLLC