Debra Ann Smith v. United States

This appeal is from a suit brought by appellants below for wrongful death under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Appellants are the husband and children of the decedent, who died in Keesler Air Force Base Hospital after a successful gall bladder operation, from the effects of a drug, Compazine, which was administered 10 hours after the operation to control nausea.

Appellants contend that the physicians treating Mrs. Smith were negligent (1) in giving the drug Compazine in the immediate post-operative period and (2) in failing timely to administer one of two antidotes, Benadryl or Phenobarbital,…