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The following press release was issued by MCKEEN & ASSOCIATES. The response from Aspirus follows the press release:
DETROIT – December 18, 2017 – McKeen & Associates announced today it won a verdict in excess of $9 million on behalf of its client, Julie Harris, a resident of Houghton County, Michigan. The verdict is the largest in upper peninsula history.
The case in Circuit Court for the County of Houghton before Honorable Charles R. Goodman, proved that Harris suffered ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity due to the negligence of her primary care physician, Dr. Bonnie Hafeman;, Larium Wellness Center; Aspirus Keweenaw Pharmacy; and pharmacists Amy Tarvis, Gerald Penegor and Kelly Wittenberg.
“Harris was given the antibiotic Tobramycin, a dangerous drug which requires regular blood level monitoring,” says Brian McKeen, managing partner of McKeen & Associates. “She developed ototoxicity, which is drug or chemical induced damage to the inner ear; and nephrotoxicity, which is poisoning of the kidneys from certain drugs and kidneys. Tobramycin is known to cause both of these kinds of poisoning without careful monitoring and close clinical observation. Her physician and pharmacists failed to provide either.”
McKeen says that Tobramycin was a poor choice as there are other equally effective antibiotics Harris could have been prescribed that are much safer. “The drug manufacturer warns that drug levels and kidney function should be checked every three to four days to avoid toxicity,” says McKeen. “The defendants failed to obtain any testing over a period of eight weeks, needlessly exposing the patient to risks of egregious harm.”
McKeen & Associates, P.C. is a leader in representing individuals injured by the negligence of others particularly in or by hospitals and physicians. In addition, McKeen & Associates, P.C. has successfully represented clients injured in a variety of other circumstances. Based in Detroit, McKeen & Associates represents clients in both federal and state courts brought throughout Michigan and the United States. For more information, visit www.mckeenassociates.com.
