$20.5M Award in Ava Wilson Morphine Overdose Case

Case Background

Eleven-year-old Ava Wilson had been in remission from leukemia and visited Advocate Children’s Hospital for outpatient care on October 28, 2020. Following this visit, she received a prescription for morphine to treat breakthrough pain. Less than 36 hours later, Ava died due to morphine toxicity. Her family filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against Advocate Children’s Hospital and involved providers, alleging that the care team had negligently prescribed and failed to monitor morphine administration.

Cause of Action

The Plaintiffs argued that hospital staff prescribed excessive morphine and failed to intervene despite warning signs of overdose. They claimed this constituted a breach of the accepted standard of pediatrics care, resulting in the preventable death of a child who had been winning her battle with cancer.

Injury

Ava suffered morphine toxicity, which led to respiratory depression and cardiac arrest. Her family insisted the tragedy was avoidable and blamed it on human error rather than the underlying illness. They emphasized that Ava had been in remission and otherwise recovering when she received a dose of morphine that proved fatal.

Damages Sought

The jury awarded Ava’s family $20.5 million after a three week trial in Cook County Circuit Court. The verdict included compensation for emotional loss, funeral and medical costs, and the loss of Ava’s potential future. No punitive damages were awarded, but the amount reflected the severity of the loss and the jury’s belief that hospital staff failed in their professional duties.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

The Plaintiffs presented hospital records, expert opinions, and internal communications to show that medical personnel had failed to monitor Ava’s response to morphine and had ignored red flags. They argued that the medical team never should have prescribed such high doses without stringent oversight.

In response, the defense argued that Ava’s symptoms were consistent with the disease and that the dosage was within the range typically used for pediatric oncology patients. They denied any negligence and claimed that staff acted appropriately throughout her care.

Legal Representation

Plaintiffs: Family of Ava Wilson

· Counsel for Plaintiffs: Matthew L. Williams | Aaron D. Boeder | Eirene-Gin Nakamur Salvi | Marisa A. Gelabert

Defendants: Advocate Children’s Hospital | Associated Medical Professionals

· Counsel for Defendants: Katherine L. Dzik | Madeline Engledow

Claims

The Wilson family alleged medical malpractice and wrongful death, arguing that Advocate Children’s Hospital staff had prescribed an excessive dose of morphine and failed to monitor Ava’s response, ignoring clear warning signs of overdose. They claimed these actions breached accepted pediatric care standards and directly caused her morphine toxicity, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest. The family emphasized that her death was preventable, as she was in leukemia remission and otherwise stable, framing the case as a tragic outcome of human error rather than illness.

Defense

Advocate Children’s Hospital and its providers denied any negligence, asserting that the morphine dosage prescribed was within accepted ranges for pediatric oncology patients and that Ava’s symptoms were consistent with her underlying condition. They argued that staff had adhered to professional protocols throughout her care and that her death resulted from unforeseeable complications rather than any failure on their part. The defense maintained that proper medical standards had been followed and that no malpractice had occurred.

Jury Verdict

On 6th June 2025, the Cook County jury ruled in favor of the Wilson family, awarding $20.5 million in damages. The jury found the hospital and its providers negligent in their prescribing and monitoring of morphine, concluding that this negligence had directly caused Ava’s death. The case sent a clear message about the importance of cautious pain management, especially in pediatric oncology patients.

Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com