Family, Kaiser Reach Settlement in Malpractice Complaint in severe burns by antibiotic incorrectly administered

It's hard to imagine the burns this child suffered; click on the title below to see a photo of the injury.

Family, Kaiser Reach Settlement in Malpractice Complaint
Sonseeahray Tonsall
FOX40
Dec. 5, 2012

FOX40 first reported what happened to little Mia Stevens back in September.

Then, her parents were fighting for recognition of what they say was an inexcusable mistake by Kaiser Roseville and help for the healing Mia will need in the future.

Now, they say they have both.

These days, Mia Stevens is learning how to be a great big sister to two-week-old Mya and she’s still learning how to deal with what happened to her last may at Kaiser Roseville.

She received third degree burns on her right arm when IV antibiotics were pumped into her tiny hand instead of a vein, scarring her from the inside out.

But now, along with a baby sister, the other new development in her life is a settlement with the hospital where she was hurt.

“They wanted to do all they can to help Mia and that’s all we wanted for Mia,” said her father, Charles Stevens.

Mia’s parents couldn’t sue the hospital in open court because they signed that right away, as all Kaiser patients do, when they enrolled for coverage.

They were allowed to seek relief through arbitration, something they say other parents shouldn’t be afraid to do.

“When we’re sick we need to go to the doctor, but no one’s perfect,” said Stevens. “Most medical malpractice cases are not pursued, they’re just forgotten. They’re swept under the rug, so I admire the Stevens family for saying, ‘We’re going to do something about this not only for our child, but to prevent it from happening to other children,’” said Moseley Collins, Stevens’ family attorney.

In their original demands, the Stevens family asked for extra training for nurses to stop another injury like this.

In statements to FOX40, Kaiser has said, “We are very sorry that this occurred and understand how distressing it is for Mia and her family. A situation like this should not occur.”

Settlement terms keep the Stevens from discussing specific monetary or educational concessions made by the hospital, but they’re confident all is being done so that Mia’s case stands alone.

When FOX 40 visited Mia Monday she was taking a break from wearing the compression glove that is part of her treatment to control scarring.

That is the big concern for her future along with maintaining function. Her recovery is far from over.