Clara Bell, et al vs. Husnain Ashraf, MD, et al

Case Background

On July 20, 2020, Plaintiff Lori LaRock filed a Medical malpractice and Wrongful death lawsuit in the Texas State, Dallas County, 95th District Court (Case number: DC-20-09860). Monica Purdy presided over this case.

Cause

In 2018, Benjamin Bell Jr., a 72-year-old man with dementia, lived under the care of his wife, Clara Bell, and received hospice care through Total Hospice and Palliative Care (THPC). Due to his increasing agitation, THPC staff recommended inpatient psychiatric care to adjust his medications. On July 20, 2018, Clara Bell and their daughter, Wendy Watson, brought him to the Methodist Campus for Continuing Care Emergency Department (MCCC). They provided his medication profile, which indicated he was prescribed low-dose morphine sulfate (0.25 ml to 1 ml). Despite this, a clerical error delayed his admission to the Behavioral Health Unit until July 23, 2018, under the care of Dr. Husnain Ashraf. During the wait, the staff did not administer morphine. On July 24, 2018, at 11:25 a.m., Benjamin was transferred to the Behavioral Health Unit. Despite knowing his sensitivity to opioids, Dr. Ashraf prescribed a 90 mg extended-release morphine tablet at 1:30 p.m., which was administered by 2:05 p.m. By 5:40 p.m., Benjamin was found unresponsive from an opioid overdose, experiencing acute respiratory failure. He was transferred to Methodist Richardson Medical Center’s ICU and received a Narcan infusion to counteract the overdose. Though the Narcan infusion stabilized his oxygen levels, the overdose caused irreversible cognitive and motor damage. He could no longer move, communicate, or swallow independently. On August 2, 2018, he was discharged to Rebecca’s Group Home. On August 3, his condition deteriorated, and on August 4, 2018, at 2:40