Senate Bill 0040er
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
ENROLLED
1998 Legislature SB 40
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2 An act relating to the North Broward Hospital
3 District, Broward County; providing for the
4 relief of Bruce Silverman and Janie Silverman,
5 personal representatives of the estate of
6 Alexandra Silverman; providing an effective
7 date.
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9 WHEREAS, on February 11, 1995, Alexandra Silverman, age
10 2, contracted an intestinal flu called rotovirus, and
11 WHEREAS, because of Alexandra's continued vomiting and
12 diarrhea on the following day, her mother and grandmother took
13 her to the emergency room of Coral Springs Hospital, and
14 WHEREAS, the hospital was dilatory in initially
15 examining Alexandra, but admitted her on February 12, 1995,
16 and transferred her to the pediatric floor at 11:00 p.m., and
17 WHEREAS, at the time of her transfer, her blood
18 pressure was abnormal and treatment was begun, and
19 WHEREAS, when Alexandra was seen by a pediatrician at
20 2:00 a.m., she awoke easily and was alert, and
21 WHEREAS, at 3:30 a.m., while Alexandra's parents had
22 returned home, the hospital experienced a complete power
23 failure that lasted until 5:00 a.m., and
24 WHEREAS, at 4:00 a.m., a nurse checked Alexandra and
25 performed certain functions, during which time Alexandra did
26 not wake up as could have been expected, at which time a
27 physician should have been called, and
28 WHEREAS, at 5:00 a.m., the nurse again examined
29 Alexandra and found her unresponsive, but reported her vital
30 signs as stable when they were not, and even reported
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
ENROLLED
1998 Legislature SB 40
1 Alexandra's condition to her father over the telephone as
2 "fine," and
3 WHEREAS, when Alexandra's parents returned to the
4 hospital, they found Alexandra unresponsive and with vital
5 signs indicating that the child needed immediate attention,
6 and
7 WHEREAS, the hospital again was dilatory in providing
8 medical attention, and
9 WHEREAS, when treatment was provided, it was found
10 that, as a result of a dangerously fast lowering of body
11 sodium, Alexandra had suffered cerebral edema, and
12 WHEREAS, the attending nurse did not make any entry on
13 Alexandra's chart until after Alexandra was taken to intensive
14 care at approximately 6:40 a.m., and
15 WHEREAS, on her next shift, the nurse removed the
16 original chart from the file and substituted a completely
17 rewritten document, and
18 WHEREAS, Alexandra was declared brain dead on February
19 14, 1995, and, after the withdrawal of life support, died on
20 February 15, 1995, and
21 WHEREAS, Bruce Silverman and Janie Silverman, parents
22 of Alexandra and personal representatives of her estate,
23 brought suit against North Broward Hospital District, the
24 entity operating Coral Springs Hospital, and
25 WHEREAS, the parties have entered into a settlement
26 agreement under which the district has paid the plaintiffs
27 $200,000 pursuant to section 768.28, Florida Statutes, and
28 supports this act requiring the payment of an additional $1
29 million, NOW, THEREFORE,
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31 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
ENROLLED
1998 Legislature SB 40
1 Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this
2 act are found and declared to be true.
3 Section 2. The North Broward Hospital District is
4 directed to appropriate from funds of the district not
5 otherwise appropriated, and to draw a warrant in the amount of
6 $1 million, payable to Bruce Silverman and Janie Silverman,
7 personal representatives of the estate of Alexandra Silverman,
8 in compensation for the death of Alexandra Silverman while in
9 the care of the Coral Springs Hospital as a result of
10 negligence on the part of hospital employees.
11 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
12 law.
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