Thursday, Sep. 04, 2008

PMC settles wrongful death lawsuit

Clover woman's family gets more than $1.2 million from hospital, doctor, medical group

By Toya Graham

Enquirer Herald

The family of a Clover woman who slipped into a coma and later died after hospital staff failed to perform a doctor-ordered blood test will receive more than $1.2 million in a settlement stemming from a wrongful death lawsuit, according to court documents.

Beverly Sue Erdel, 60, had ear surgery and was discharged on Aug. 14, 2003. Two days later, she went to the emergency room at Piedmont Medical Center complaining of numbness in her left leg, the suit notes.

The suit, filed in 2006 and settled last week, contends that Dr. Otis Speight ordered a blood test that was not done.

The suit further notes that those providing care for Erdel failed to notify Speight of Erdel's declining health.

She slipped into a coma and later died on Oct. 2, 2003, according to the suit.

The suit named Amisub of South Carolina, which does business as Piedmont Medical Center, York Emergency Physicians and Speight. Insurance companies will pay $875,000, $187,500, $187,500 to the family for Amisub, York Emergency Physicians and Speight, respectively, according to the suit.

The Herald could not reach Erdel's family. Their attorney, Chad McGowan, declined to comment, citing confidentially.

William Gunn and Russell W. Harter, attorneys for Amisub and York Emergency Physicians and Speight, respectively, also could not be reached.

The suit notes that the settlement "is not to be construed as an admission of liability or fault by any party and the defendants deny liability in this case."

The suit was settled before its Sept. 22 trial date.

Erdel's settlement comes on the heels of other recent settlements.

In March, a Rock Hill woman was to receive $1.775 million in a wrongful death lawsuit after her 73-year-old husband was given the wrong drug because of a doctor's error, according to court documents.

That suit named Amisub, Tenet Healthcare, the parent company of Piedmont Medical Center, Anesthesia Associates of Rock Hill and several doctors.

In May, court orders show Amisub was to pay $1 million to the family of a Rock Hill man who killed himself after being denied admission to PMC.