In 2016, a tragic event unfolded at Augusta University Medical Center, now known as Wellstar Health, resulting in the untimely death of a three-year-old boy. The young patient was battling Burkitt Lymphoma, a rapidly progressing cancer that can be fatal if not treated correctly. However, with prompt and appropriate treatment, it is generally considered highly curable.

The boy’s condition had been improving due to chemotherapy treatments over several days. However, he developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a severe and known side effect of Allopurinol, a medication he had recently started receiving. This syndrome initially manifests as a skin rash that can spread across large areas of the body, eventually leading to blisters, loss of skin tissue, and extensive damage to the mucous membranes.

Allopurinol carries a stern warning to discontinue use at the first signs of a skin rash or other adverse reactions. The crux of the trial revolved around the failure of multiple physicians to promptly identify Allopurinol as the cause of the boy’s deteriorating condition and to cease administering the drug over several days. This oversight ultimately led to the boy’s death.

The trial took place in April and May of 2024.  The jury ruled in favor of the family, awarding them a total of $37 million. This sum included $22 million for the value of the child’s life, $10 million for the pain and suffering the child experienced, and $5 million for the emotional distress endured by his parents.

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