Posted: Oct 24, 2016, 11:25 AM
The Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments in McLain v City of Lansing Fire Department on October 6, 2016 to decide whether to grant leave to appeal. Tracy McLain sought emergency treatment as a result of a respiratory attack. Emergency personnel inserted a breathing tube due to her low blood oxygen levels and transported her to the hospital. She alleges that the emergency personnel placed the tube in her esophagus rather than her trachea and that they acted with gross negligence where they did not check her blood oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter during the entire transport to the hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, the emergency department notes indicate that the tube was placed in the esophagus.