Excessive Dose of Lopressor Leads to Stroke, Brain Damage in Kaiser Patient, A Couple Claims
2-10-2013 17:28:00


(CN) - A Kaiser Permanente doctor gave an Ohio man excessive doses of the blood pressure medication Lopressor, causing him to have a stroke, a couple claims in court.

James and Frances Bianca claim an unknown doctor at Kaiser's Parma Community General Hospital ordered James be given Lopressor via port on Dec. 26, 2011. The drug, known clinically as metoprolol, is used to treat a variety of cardiac ailments but also has a long list of side effects including reduced blood flow.

"Plaintiffs state that defendants were negligent in ordering and/or administering excessive doses of Lopressor to plaintiff James Bianca .... As a result of the joint, combined and concurrent negligence of defendants, plaintiff James Bianca sustained a hypoxic ischemic event and/or severe brain injury and has been rendered an incompetent person," according to the couple's complaint.

James Bianca will need long term and supervisory care for the rest of his life, according to the couple.

They are represented by William S. Jacobson of the firm Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy in Cleveland, Ohio.
CV 12 797043