Hospital to pay $9.5 million for drugged doctor case
A Texas hospital agreed to pay $9.5 million to the family of a woman and her unborn child, both of whom died two years ago at the hands of a doctor who may have been abusing drugs.
South Park Hospital and Medical Center in Lubbock agreed to the large settlement to end the malpractice case filed by the patient’s father. His 20-year-old daughter died at the hospital while in labor with her first child. Jack Dunn, MD, was treating the woman and attempted to provide an epidural anesthetic. The doctor apparently missed the epidural space and punctured the vena cava instead. The woman suffered cardiac arrest and died shortly after.
The malpractice case alleged that hospital staff made no effort to deliver the baby, who died with the mother. The lawsuit also alleged Dunn had been abusing prescription drugs for some time and that the hospital knew of his drug problem for at least five months before the accident. At the time of the accident, the hospital was checking the doctor’s background but allowing him to continue treating patients, according to the lawsuit.
The hospital released a statement explaining that it denied liability but would not contest the lawsuit. The settlement provides $5 million for the dead woman’s father, $3.5 million for her husband, and $1 million for her mother. They also will split a $1 million settlement that was reached with the accused doctor a year ago.
In addition to the $9.5 million, South Park formally apologized to the woman’s family and agreed to pursue random screening of its physicians for drug abuse.
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