Vivian Ramsey Boswell has filed a compelling lawsuit alleging medical negligence against a prominent doctor and his associated medical practice. On February 5, 2025, Boswell lodged her complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, targeting Dr. Ashraf Fouad Abdel Hanna and Spinecare Associates, LLC, operating as Florida Spine Institute.
The case revolves around Boswell's treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Adhesive Arachnoiditis at the Florida Spine Institute starting in April 2022. Under Dr. Hanna's supervision, she underwent a series of ketamine infusions beginning June 6, 2022. The plaintiff claims that after several days of treatment, she experienced severe fatigue and was unable to consume food or fluids adequately. By June 16, her condition had deteriorated significantly; she was lethargic and uncommunicative when arriving for her scheduled infusion.
Dr. Hanna assessed Boswell on June 16 but chose not to administer ketamine that day due to her condition. The following day, despite reporting continued difficulty with food and fluid intake and presenting with low blood pressure (79/50), she was given ephedrine instead of being directly admitted to a hospital for severe dehydration. Later that day, Boswell's brother called an ambulance as her condition worsened; she was taken to Morton Plant Hospital where she was diagnosed with severe sepsis, acute renal failure, acute hepatitis among other serious conditions.
Boswell's legal team argues that Dr. Hanna failed to meet the prevailing standard of care by not recognizing her severe dehydration earlier and improperly prescribing ephedrine under those circumstances. They assert these actions led directly to her acute medical complications including renal failure and sepsis.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs for the alleged negligence by both Dr. Hanna individually and vicariously through Spinecare Associates LLC under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Boswell is pursuing compensatory damages for bodily injury resulting in pain, suffering, disability among other permanent losses along with any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Vivian Ramsey Boswell are attorneys Lee D. Gunn IV and Ryan A. Lopez from Gunn Law Group P.A., while details about defense counsel remain undisclosed at this time. The case is presided over by Judge Ken Burke under Case Number: 25-000553-CI.