Family of Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan settles with Dallas hospital

Enlarge Photo

Jake Dean

The family of deceased Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has reached a settlement with Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas Hospital over Duncan's care.

12 photos

Home of the Day

Sponsor Listing

Bill Hethcock

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

Email  |  Twitter  |  Twitter  |  Google+

The family of deceased Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has reached a settlement with Texas Health Resources over his care at its Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas Hospital, the hospital that initially sent him home when he arrived sick, according to a statement released by the hospital.

The hospital said only that it has "amicably resolved" all matters with the family, and did not say how much the family was paid as part of the settlement.

As part of the agreement, the family's lawyer declared Duncan's inpatient care "excellent," according to the hospital's statement. The statement also says the hospital "regret(s) that the diagnosis of Ebola Virus Disease was not made at the time of Mr. Duncan's initial Emergency Department visit."

Texas Health Presbyterian will honor Duncan's memory by helping to create the Texas Health Dallas Thomas Eric Duncan Memorial Fund for the purpose of providing assistance to victims of Ebola in Africa, the statement says.

Les Weisbrod, the attorney for the family, said the settlement amount would be enough to "take care" of Duncan's parents and his four children, who range in age from 12 to 22. He also said the hospital was not charging the family for the care.

Duncan, 42, went to the hospital Sept. 25, but was sent home with antibiotics even though he told staff there that he had traveled from Africa. He later returned by ambulance and became the first person diagnosed with Ebola virus disease in the United States on Sept. 28.

Duncan died of the disease on Oct. 8. He had traveled to Dallas from Liberia, where he was exposed to the disease.

Weisbrod said that the family wants a book or movie produced to depict Duncan's ordeal, according to news reports.

Bill covers health care, law, education and general assignments. Subscribe to our email newsletters.