Mother still asks why her son died

She's unhappy that the hospital isn't held accountable.

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published June 17, 2007

A month after her 10-year-old son bled to death at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami-Dade, Kim Robinstein filed a complaint alleging that doctors there killed him.

While the state's Agency for Health Care Administration cited the hospital for deficiencies, the agency's findings don't support her allegation that doctors were responsible for the death of her son, whose disease caused his intestinal tract to malfunction.

"I'm frustrated," said Robinstein, of Port Richey. "I can't believe they're still open."

In her October complaint with AHCA regarding her son Terran, who died Sept. 24, Robinstein said: Terran was moved to a room that wasn't equipped for his care and was exposed to latex despite having a latex allergy. The major thing that contributed to his death was a staph infection he received while in ICU.

Her complaint prompted AHCA to investigate the Miami hospital in November.

After AHCA's visit, Jackson Memorial was forced to correct its mistakes.

Among them:

• Officials at the 1,558-bed hospital failed to report, investigate or control infections at the hospital.
• Large holes were found in the floor of an operating room where patients were receiving care.
• A refrigerator that held food for patients was dirty, along with serving utensils in one of the hospital's kitchens.

In response to the AHCA investigation, officials at the hospital refused to speak to a Times reporter.

Instead, Jackson Hospital released a brief statement:

"... the deficiencies brought to our attention by AHCA were immediately acted upon. A plan of correction was submitted, accepted and implemented. At Jackson Health System, we are committed to our patients and their well-being. They are, and always will be, our top priority."

While Jackson Memorial said it was dealing with its problems, Robinstein grieved for her son.

Terran was born with Hirschsprung's disease and spent most of his life in a hospital. He was unable to eat solid foods and had a colostomy bag.

On Sept. 3, Terran had a seven-organ transplant at Jackson Memorial. Two weeks later, his esophagus graft fell apart, and he developed a staph infection.

Doctors repaired it, but told Robinstein that the graft was at the greatest risk to fall apart nine to 14 days later.

Because of overcrowding in the ICU, Terran was taken to a regular room nine days later. He bled to death the next day.

Robinstein held a home funeral for her son.

Now, she spends three hours a day at Trinity Memorial Gardens, where Terran is buried. She plays music and talks to him.

She said she's still confused about what happened to Terran during his final hours at Jackson Memorial.

"Nobody has ever sat down with me to explain what happened," she said. "And I don't think they ever will."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6229.

[Last modified June 16, 2007, 19:11:03]