Family: Mom given fatal overdose of meds hours after going to ER with shortness of breath

Jeremia Hodge died April 1, 2018, just hours after arriving to the Mt. Carmel ER and then being admitted to the ICU. (Courtesy: Hodge family)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four adult sons solemnly sat with their lawyer Monday afternoon, recounting their final moments with their mother before they say a doctor gave her a lethal dose of fentanyl just four hours after they took her to the emergency room.

The Hodge brothers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. William Husel, and John Doe nurses and pharmacists who worked at Mt. Carmel Hospital. It's the latest wrongful death lawsuit filed against the doctor, the hospital, and other staff after the hospital revealed at least 34 patients were given excessive and potentially fatal doses of pain medication.

“We know about construction, not medicine,” the Hodge brothers said.

So the men say when they were told their mother Sue Hodge was “brain dead” after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit on April 1st 2018, they had a difficult decision to make. The family had just wrapped up a family picnic at a park on Easter Sunday only to find themselves in the middle of a nightmare.

“We thought she just had a cold and that she was just, we thought she would be in the hospital for some time and would come out of it,” said Jacob Hodge.

He said Dr. Husel recommended taking Sue off life support because “there was nothing else to be done for her.”

“We all had a meeting together and decided to unplug her because that is, he said, that is the best, the best for her. That she would be out of pain and suffering if we just went ahead and did it,” Robert said.

Lawyer David Shroyer said Sue Hodge was given 800 micrograms of Fentanyl and another drug Versed. Shroyer said 100 micrograms would be a “comfort” dose.

“You cannot take a position that I am going to administer drugs that hastens death to put someone out of their pain. That is an act of euthanasia, that is illegal in Ohio. That’s murder,” Shroyer said.

The Hodges talked about how difficult it is coming forward to speak out about the case. Robert Hodge said his mother was his best friend. “I talked to my mom every day. I drove cross country talked to her for hours. I am disappointed in the medical field. Really just upset and angry.”

Steven Hodge said it’s rough on them as the investigation continues. “It was like opening the wound all over again. We gotta live with this again and share it with the public.”

“Why? Why would you do this to people? You are supposed to be trusted,” Steven said about Dr. Husel. “We trusted the doctor’s word. You are in the hospital that is what you do. You trust your doctor. In this case, it was wrong.”

Husel has been fired by Mt. Carmel and his medical license has been yanked. Fourteen nurses and six pharmacists are on administrative leave as the probe continues. “I can’t even comprehend any of this would happen and why there is not situations to stop something like this,” said Jacob Hodge.

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Family: Mom given fatal overdose of meds hours after going to ER with shortness of breath