SEATTLE — The trial to settle damages in a class-action lawsuit from families of patients who were treated for mold exposure at Seattle Children's hospital began Monday.
Since 2001, seven Seattle Children’s patients have died from an Aspergillus mold infection, a common mold that can be detrimental for people with compromised immune systems. Fourteen patients have been sickened from the mold with varying impacts to their ability and health.
This trial involves four families in an underlying lawsuit that includes 77 plaintiffs who were exposed to mold in cardiac and neurosurgery operating rooms in 2019. These patients were not infected.
Seattle Children's recommended preventative treatment and diagnostic testing to mitigate the patients' risk of infection, according to a trial brief.
In September, Seattle Children's admitted it was negligent in exposing patients to Aspergillus and the risk was high enough that plaintiffs didn't need to prove the extent of each child's exposure.
The trial will determine damages.
The plaintiffs claim the preventative treatment caused harmful side effects, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, in addition to other damages, such as mental anguish.
Seattle Children's said damages from the preventative treatment were minimal.
The hospital temporarily closed its operating rooms in May 2019 and again in November 2019 when dangerous levels of mold were detected inside the rooms. In May 2020, routine air tests revealed mold in the hospital's operating rooms and an equipment storage room.
In 2022, Seattle Children’s was ordered to pay $250,000 to each of the three family members who filed a $40 million lawsuit. During the trial, Seattle Children’s admitted that its own negligence led to a mold infection in one of the operating rooms.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated that plaintiffs in the trial were infected with Aspergillus. The patients at the center of the trial were exposed but did not contract the infection.