Levaquin Killed My Dad
My Dad walked into the ER at Muskogee Regional Medical Center, Muskogee, OK, on 4/18, complaining of shortness of breath. Docs stated he was not "sick enough" to be admitted..didn't meet criteria. My Dad insisted, stating "There is something terribly wrong with me. I can't breathe." They reluctantly admitted him with prognosis of bronchitis. No X-Rays. My Dad listed Coumadin on his ER Admittance Form. He had been taking Zithromax for four days prior (side effect of Zithromax-Coumadin drug interaction = breathing difficulties...Dr's missed it.) for the bronchitis. The Docs also prescribed LEVAQUIN. To make a long story short, my Dad was in the hospital for 8 days with no PT/PTT/INR taken until he had GI Bleed, convulsions, massive organ failure. They continued to prescribe Levaquin up to the day he died, even though charted bloodwork was obvious that my Dad was in TROUBLE. The trouble was = LEVAQUIN. Anemia, elevated BUN, etc, etc. -- They finally looked at coagualtion results. Guess what??? There were none. No coagulaltion testing until day 8, even though my Dad listed Warfarin as a med? He and I walked in....we wheeled him out ...DEAD. I realized what happened after his death by requesting a copy of the chart. I am a lay person...no medical education. However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the facts. Coumadin toxicity...drug interaction...Dr. tried to push under the rug with COPD on death certificate (My Dad was not on home oxygen...never had been.) Doctors listed GI Bleed as Secondary (not related to death) on death certificate, even though his PT was >100, and his INR was 85 when first tested. Massive bleeding, seizing before my eyes and my children's eyes. We saw a vibrant man walk into this hospital...then he was literally killed by lack of care. Nurses listed on meds chart "Dr., you haven't ordered INR/PT." Dr. never noticed. They weren't looking...just decided this man needed a "few breathing treatments"...Never even tested his PT/PTT/INR??? Incompetence. Reported my findings to the Oklahoma State Board of Health. After reviewing my Dad's chart, they sided with me, and are citing the hospital with neglect. Also, the State of Oklahoma will file complaint against chief physician for his part in my Dad's death. Hopefully, he'll pay a little more attention to his patients in the future. This drug has horrible side effects...4 doctors missed the signs of drug interaction...they miserably failed my Dad. My Dad should have walked out of that hospital. After all, as I said before...the Docs didn't want to admit him...he wasn't sick enough.. But my Dad insisted, and now he's dead. I wouldn't give my Dog Levaquin....