Ava Wilson, 11, had just overcome cancer—only to tragically die days later from a fatal morphine overdose caused by a medical mistake. Now, a jury has awarded her family $20.5 million in damages.
Photo provided by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard
Ava Wilson of Crown Point, Indiana, was diagnosed with B-lymphoblastic leukemia in April 2020. Following months of chemotherapy and consolidation therapy, she achieved remission by June of the same year, as reported by CBS News.
But just months later, in October 2020, Ava’s health took a turn at a follow-up visit to Advocate Children’s Hospital. According to PEOPLE, she arrived in severe pain, crying and struggling to walk. Despite concerning lab results and her obvious distress, Ava was discharged with dramatically increased prescriptions for painkillers—15 milligrams of morphine every four hours, triple her previous dose—and an increased dosage of gabapentin.
Just 36 hours after returning home, Ava died in her sleep. The cause of death was determined to be drug toxicity from multiple substances—most critically, a lethal level of morphine.
Attorney Matthew L. Williams, representing the family, said Ava’s symptoms and test results should have prompted hospitalization.
“Ava’s body was crying out for help,” he said. “Instead of monitoring her vitals and addressing her pain in a hospital setting, clinicians sent her home with dangerous levels of medication.”
The lawsuit detailed serious abnormalities in Ava’s blood work: dangerously low platelet and blood cell counts, high liver enzymes, low blood pressure, and an elevated heart rate. Despite these red flags, Ava never saw her oncologist—only a nurse practitioner.
After a prolonged civil trial, the jury ruled in the family’s favor, awarding $20.5 million in damages. Though no amount can replace Ava, her family hopes the verdict brings some measure of accountability.
“While nothing can ease the pain of losing Ava, the family is grateful the jury acknowledged that her death was preventable,” said attorney Aaron Boeder. “Ava should still be here today.”
