Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Althea LaCoste, a 73-year-old woman who died after Hurricane Katrina left the hospital without electricity. The terms of the settlement a sealed and the amount is not available to the public. Generally when a hospital is sued it is for malpractice by doctors or other staff but in this case the allegations were the hospital negligently failed to prepare for a storm of Katrina's magnitude. Given the location of the hospital in relation to bad weather that could knock out power for prolong periods of time, the hospital should have had a better back up plan for vital services such as electricity.
LaCoste was at the hospital recovering from pneumonia and was hooked up to a portable ventilator which requires electricity. LaCoste was taken to the hospital as the hurricane approached. At the hospital LaCosta survived for 18 hours without power but the trauma of being without the portable ventilaor led to her death. It was good that the lawyer had a creative approach to holding the hospital responsible for the wrongful death of LaCosta.
