Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Woman Says She Lost Her Fingers And Toes Because Of Hospital Infection [Graphic]
A woman is suing a Duarte hospital after she says doctors did not give her vaccinations that could have prevented an infection that resulted in the amputation of several fingers and toes. Janet Garner, 49, is a mother of three and a former U.C. Irvine Medical Center worker, KTLA reports. She appeared today at 10 a.m. with her husband, Stefan, at a press conference at the L.A. Downtown Hotel, according to CBS LA.
Garner said that she was received a bone marrow transplant at the City of Hope National Medical Center in 2004. According to the Garners' lawyer, Moseley Collins, the hospital staff "chose to ignore their own written procedure and did not give her the required pneumococcal vaccinations following the transplant."
She later suffered an infection—pneumococcal sepsis—in 2011. Garner said she almost died in the ICU. Her lawyer explained that she was given life-saving drugs at another hospital which drew the blood into critical organs and away from her extremities, which has resulted in the amputation of several fingers, all of her toes and parts of her feet. There is a possibility that Garner will eventually lose the entirety of both feet, due to wounds that have yet to heal.
At today's conference, Garner said, "Everyday, I wake up I still can't believe this has happened to me because I was so active and took care of my kids."
LAist reached out to City of Hope for a statement. The hospital responded with the following statement:
"Providing the best possible treatment for all patients is City of Hope’s highest priority. In observance of federal and state privacy regulations, we will not comment upon any individual patient."
The Garners' trial begins in March 2015.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
