In a devastating turn that has ignited outrage over hospital protocols, 2-year-old De’Markus Jeremiah Page passed away following a critical cardiac episode triggered by an administrative oversight in his medication regimen at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. The toddler, who arrived for routine care amid a viral illness, received an electrolyte supplement at 10 times the intended amount due to a misplaced decimal point in his electronic records, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his grieving mother in Alachua County Circuit Court last week.

De’Markus, affectionately known as “Markie” to his family, was a spirited child with special needs, full of curiosity and endless energy despite developmental challenges that required ongoing medical support. On March 1, 2024, the vibrant boy was admitted to AdventHealth Ocala Hospital after presenting with symptoms of a common respiratory virus and critically low potassium levels, a condition that demanded prompt electrolyte replenishment to prevent complications. Transferred to the specialized pediatric wing at Shands Children’s Hospital two days later for advanced monitoring, Markie seemed on the mend, his vital signs stabilizing under the care of a multidisciplinary team.

The prescribed treatment included oral potassium phosphate, a standard supplement administered twice daily at a conservative 1.5 millimoles (mmol) per dose—tailored precisely to his young age and weight of just 28 pounds. Hospital records, as detailed in the 45-page complaint, confirm this dosage was correctly entered on February 29. However, during a routine morning update on March 3, the attending physician adjusted the order for the 11:01 a.m. administration. In what the suit describes as a “preventable clerical lapse,” the decimal point from the prior entry was inadvertently omitted, escalating the directive to 15 mmol per dose. Staff proceeded without double-checking against baseline labs, which had already shown Markie’s potassium returning to normal that very morning—a red flag the lawsuit alleges was overlooked.

Administered promptly, the excessive infusion sent Markie’s electrolyte balance into disarray, culminating in a massive cardiac arrest later that afternoon. Emergency teams sprang into action, but the suit contends that initial airway management proved challenging, with multiple unsuccessful attempts delaying stabilization. Despite valiant efforts involving advanced life support and transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit, the toddler’s fragile system could not recover from the imbalance. He was pronounced deceased on March 18, 2024, after 15 harrowing days on life support, surrounded by his shattered family.

Dominique Page, Markie’s 28-year-old mother and a devoted home health aide from Ocala, has channeled her profound loss into a fierce quest for accountability. “Markie was my everything—his giggles lit up every room,” she shared through tears in an exclusive interview with local affiliate WCJB. “One tiny oversight, and he’s gone forever. No family should endure this nightmare.” Represented by attorney Jordan Dulcie of Dulcie Law Group, the suit accuses the hospital, its unnamed physicians, nurses, and pharmacists of negligence, breach of standard care, and failure to implement adequate safeguards against dosage errors—common pitfalls in pediatric settings where calculations hinge on minute adjustments.

Legal filings paint a picture of systemic shortcomings at the prestigious teaching facility, affiliated with the University of Florida. The complaint highlights the absence of mandatory independent verification for high-risk medications, a protocol recommended by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. It also scrutinizes the electronic health record system, alleging its interface allowed the error to propagate unchecked across shifts. “This wasn’t an act of malice, but of inexcusable carelessness in a place sworn to protect the vulnerable,” Dulcie asserted in court documents, seeking unspecified damages exceeding $50 million for emotional distress, lost future earnings, and punitive measures to enforce reforms.

Shands Hospital, part of UF Health’s expansive network serving over 1.2 million patients annually, issued a measured response via spokesperson Samantha Cowan. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the Page family during this unimaginable time,” the statement read. “Patient safety remains our utmost priority, and while we cannot discuss ongoing litigation, we are committed to a thorough internal review to uphold the highest standards of care.” The facility has faced prior scrutiny, including a 2022 settlement in a neonatal overdose case, but administrators emphasize ongoing training and technology upgrades to mitigate risks.

Markie’s story resonates amid a sobering national conversation on pediatric medication safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports over 7,000 serious adverse events yearly from dosing miscalculations in children, with decimal transpositions accounting for a disproportionate share—often multiplying safe amounts by factors of 10 or more. Advocacy groups like Parents for Safe Pediatrics decry understaffing in children’s wards post-pandemic, where fatigued teams juggle complex regimens. “Kids aren’t mini-adults; their margins for error are razor-thin,” warns Dr. Emily Hargrove, a pediatric pharmacologist at Johns Hopkins, who reviewed similar cases. “Hospitals must adopt fail-safes like barcode scanning and pharmacist overrides—lives depend on it.”

For the Page family, the void left by Markie is incalculable. His father, Jamal Page, a 30-year-old construction worker, recounts sleepless nights haunted by hospital echoes. “He fought so hard, our little warrior,” Jamal said, clutching a framed photo of Markie in his favorite superhero cape. Siblings—a 5-year-old sister and infant brother—grapple with the absence, prompting family therapy funded through a burgeoning GoFundMe that has raised $45,000 for funeral costs and counseling. Community vigils in Ocala, adorned with blue balloons symbolizing child health awareness, draw hundreds, transforming grief into calls for legislative action on medical error transparency.

Experts anticipate a protracted battle in court, with discovery poised to unearth internal memos and audit trails. Precedents abound: A 2019 California verdict awarded $15 million after a similar infusion blunder felled a teen, while a 2023 Texas settlement reached $22 million for electrolyte mismanagement. Dulcie predicts a settlement but vows to push for depositions, arguing, “Only sunlight disinfects these shadows.”

As November’s chill settles over Gainesville’s oak-lined streets, the Pages hold onto memories: Markie’s first steps, his love for splashing in puddles, the way he’d beam at storytime. This tragedy underscores a stark imperative—precision in healing hands. Will Shands rise to the challenge, or will Markie’s legacy fuel broader safeguards? For now, a mother’s resolve echoes: “He deserved better. Every child does.” The suit presses on, a beacon in the fog of loss, demanding answers for a boy whose light flickered out too soon