A family from Grande Prairie, Alberta, has received compensation through a significant lawsuit concerning the medical treatment of their infant daughter, who lost all four limbs following a delayed response to a bacterial infection. The girl, now 15 years old and referred to as KB in court documents, was admitted to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie at the age of 11 months on February 19, 2011.
Initially hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), KB deteriorated rapidly and went into septic shock caused by a progressing lung infection on February 22, necessitating immediate intubation and transfer to Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. Following a prolonged stay at Stollery, where irreversible damage from the infection’s complications occurred, KB underwent amputations on her right hand, parts of four fingers on her left hand, and both legs.
In a recent ruling, Justice Avril Inglis of the Court of King’s Bench granted damages totaling almost $16.5 million to KB, considering her long-term care requirements due to her permanent disability. This amount encompasses expenses for ongoing prosthetics, support personnel, and various therapies to maintain her well-being, with additional calculations pending for future costs’ interest accrual.
Furthermore, DB, identified as KB’s mother in the court proceedings, was awarded nearly $650,000 in damages, accounting for lost income and past caregiving efforts for her daughter. In an interview, DB expressed optimism for her daughter’s future, emphasizing KB’s resilience and strength throughout her life and the assurance that she will have the necessary resources for success.
The lawsuit, which unfolded over the span of 2022 and 2023, found family physician Dr. Mark Guhle culpable for breaching the standard of care towards KB at the Grande Prairie hospital, leading to her subsequent injuries. Inglis determined that Dr. Guhle failed to promptly recognize the likelihood of a bacterial infection and initiate appropriate treatment, despite indications of KB’s deteriorating condition on February 21.
Inglis’s verdict highlighted the critical moment on February 22 when Dr. Guhle identified the severity of KB’s situation, noting her respiratory distress. The court also mentioned the discovery of Group A Streptococcus bacteria through diagnostic tests following a chest X-ray at that time.
While the legal representatives of the involved physicians, including Dr. Guhle, chose not to comment, the possibility of appealing the judgments remains open for the defendants. Stacy Koumarelas, a partner at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers in Toronto, part of KB’s legal team, emphasized that the case aimed not only at financial compensation but also at restoring KB’s dignity and ensuring her substantial future care needs are met.
KB’s mother shared that her daughter, now a spirited and graceful teenager, embodies resilience and gratitude as they navigate life post the tragic events of 2011. Despite facing ongoing challenges, they remain focused on embracing each day with gratitude and moving forward from the past.
