Child Suffers Amputation – Medical Misdiagnosis

A 6-year-old boy’s undiagnosed strep throat infection led to the amputation of his legs to save his life, his parents claim in a lawsuit against a Maryland hospital. Almost a year ago, Eric Flynn Jr. had a high fever, swollen tonsils and unexplained hip pain. His parents took him to the Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Anne Arundel County.

“Despite it being standard safety protocol at all hospitals to do a rapid strep test in such a situation, the doctors never did one,” Flynn family attorney H. Briggs Bedigan said. What started as a strep infection persisted for so long that it attacked Eric’s other organs. The lawsuit claims Dr. Kendria Hall discharged Eric with nasal congestion and hip strain.

“Knowing his tonsils were as swollen as they were, why she wouldn’t swab and do a simple strep test, where he wouldn’t be in a situation that we’re in today,” said Darnell Boldon, Eric’s mother. “If she had just taken two seconds to do that test.”

Bedigan said Eric’s condition deteriorated overnight and the family returned to the hospital the next morning. According to court documents, an undiagnosed strep infection entered Eric’s bloodstream and caused a severe infection.

“No kid should have to go through this. No parent, no family member, no friend. Nobody should have to go through this because this is something that is so simple and so easily treated,” said the boy’s father, Eric Flynn Sr.