Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settled for Nearly $1M

A medical lawsuit against the Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City has been settled for nearly $1 million in damages. The lawsuit was filed after the death of William Meyer, who was being treated at the hospital for leukemia when he developed a fatal blood infection.

Meyer was undergoing chemotherapy at the VA in October 2004. Several days after his final treatment, he started experiencing diarrhea and stomach pain. Meyer’s wife, Pamela, called the hospital about his symptoms and was told an over-the-counter gas medication should help.

A Severe Infection: Every Minute Counted
However, gas was not the problem. According to the lawsuit, Meyer had developed a bacterial infection in his colon because of his reduced immunity from the chemotherapy.

When Meyer went to the emergency room, he had to wait 10 hours before receiving antibiotic treatment even though two doctors had ordered it. In fact, the medication was hanging on his gurney but had not been plugged into his IV.

Meyer suffered cardiac arrest and died (with his leukemia in remission) just a few days before his 46th birthday. His wife and daughter will receive compensation for general damages and Meyer’s lost wages.