A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the University of Florida Health Shands hospital following the tragic death of two-year-old De’Markus Page. The complaint alleges that a critical dosing error during his treatment led to his untimely demise just days after his initial hospital visit.
De’Markus was first admitted to AdventHealth Ocala Hospital in March 2024, where he was diagnosed with a rhinovirus/enterovirus and dangerously low potassium levels, known as hypokalemia. His parents sought medical attention after he exhibited persistent crying, diarrhea, and a complete loss of appetite. His condition was serious enough to warrant transfer to UF Health Shands for more advanced care.
Upon arrival at UF Health Shands, staff reportedly failed to recognize the urgency of De’Markus’s condition, overlooking essential monitoring protocols. The lawsuit claims that on March 3, a physician mistakenly ordered a dosage of potassium phosphate ten times higher than what was deemed necessary—changing the dosage from 1.5 millimoles (mmol) to 15 mmol. This miscalculation resulted in a rapid spike in potassium levels, leading to hyperkalemic cardiac arrest.
The legal complaint states that the overdose disrupted the electrical signals vital for heart function, causing De’Markus’s heart to stop. The family alleges that the emergency response was inadequate, with medical personnel taking over 20 minutes to successfully intubate him, resulting in oxygen deprivation that caused irreversible brain damage.
After two weeks on life support without any signs of recovery, De’Markus was pronounced dead on March 18, 2024. The lawsuit cites the official cause of death as hyperkalemic cardiac arrest combined with anoxic brain injury. His mother, Dominique Page, expressed her anguish over the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, stating that the family has struggled to understand what happened.
The family is now seeking damages exceeding $50,000 to cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and other losses. They argue that De’Markus should have been placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) upon arrival at UF Health Shands due to his unstable electrolyte levels, which required constant heart monitoring.
The lawsuit highlights that the hospital’s pharmacy system issued a warning regarding the excessive dosage but failed to prevent the administration of the two massive doses of potassium. Consequently, De’Markus received the erroneous dosages twice in one day, exacerbating his critical condition.
Despite the serious nature of De’Markus’s electrolytic imbalance, he was placed on a general pediatric floor rather than in the ICU. The family contends that proper care and monitoring could have potentially prevented this tragic outcome.
UF Health Shands has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations. The hospital typically refrains from discussing ongoing litigation, which adds to the family’s frustration as they seek answers for their loss.
As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about medical oversight and the critical importance of accurate dosing in pediatric care. The family aims for accountability and to ensure that no other families endure a similar tragedy.
