Family files lawsuit against UF Health Shands over child death: ‘It’s been extremely difficult’

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - UF Health Shands has a lawsuit on its hands over the death of a two-year-old boy.

Family members of De’markus Jeremiah Page say Shands staffers gave the child a deadly dose of potassium phosphate and didn’t notice he went into cardiac arrest.

The family claims more than 20 minutes went by before staffers responded to the cardiac arrest and failed to save him.

He was being treated for a virus when he was transferred from Advent Health Ocala to Shands early last year.

Family members say Shands employees made several mistakes.

“It’s been extremely difficult since the passing of my son because to this day, I still have not known what happened,” said Dominique Page, De’markus’ mother. “I was never told. When I asked, it was always vague; I do not know. I do not know. I still have nightmares about what happened.”

We reached out to UF Health Shands officials for comment, who say they cannot comment on pending litigation.

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