A Snellville couple is suing Piedmont Eastside Medical Center and its emergency physician after the devastating death of their 2-year-old daughter, Maya Getahun, from an allergic reaction to fire ant bites.
The lawsuit alleges that hospital staff delayed administering lifesaving treatment and failed to have pediatric equipment on hand—failures the family’s attorneys call “inexcusable.”
Bethelhem Getu Hundie and Getahun Birhanu filed the wrongful death suit on Tuesday in Gwinnett County, naming Piedmont Healthcare, Inc., Piedmont Eastside Hospital, Inc., Eastside Medical Center LLC, and Dr. Richisa Salazar as defendants. The complaint states that Maya’s death on October 7, 2024, was entirely preventable.
“We will never be the same again, without Maya,” said Hundie. “I’m shattered, to say the least.”
According to the lawsuit, Maya had been bitten by fire ants in her family’s front yard and was showing visible signs of a severe allergic reaction—wheezing, rash, and labored breathing—by the time she arrived at Piedmont Eastside’s ER with her parents. But instead of immediate treatment, the attending physician waited more than 20 minutes to administer epinephrine, the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.
No Pediatric Equipment Available, Lawsuit Claims
The legal complaint, filed by Bell Law Firm and Andersen, Tate & Carr, alleges that when Dr. Salazar attempted to intubate Maya, she discovered the hospital lacked the appropriately sized pediatric equipment—a crucial failure in an emergency room expected to treat children.
“Maya’s death was 100% preventable,” said Lloyd Bell, founding partner of Bell Law Firm. “If only the hospital staff had promptly administered epinephrine, Maya would still be alive. If only the hospital had the proper equipment to intubate a child, Maya would still be alive.”
Bell further stated that this is not the first time Dr. Salazar has faced medical malpractice claims, adding concern about potential patterns of negligence.
A Call for Accountability
“This case is about accountability,” Bell added. “No family should ever experience the heartbreak of losing a child due to a hospital’s lack of preparation, especially for something as foreseeable as an allergic reaction.”
The lawsuit accuses Piedmont and its providers of failing to meet the basic standard of care, and the Getahun family hopes the suit will prevent similar tragedies from happening to other children.
The suit seeks damages for wrongful death, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma, underscoring a broader demand for systemic change in how pediatric emergencies are handled in Georgia hospitals.
For more information, visit www.belllawfirm.com.
