Settlement reached in medication-error death at St. Charles
A settlement has been reached between the family of Loretta Macpherson, 65, and St. Charles in Bend after a medication error at the hospital led to the death of the Sisters resident in late 2014, an attorney and hospital officials confirmed Tuesday.
The family’s attorney, Jennifer Coughlin said Tuesday she cannot disclose the amount of the monetary settlement, which was reached last Thursday.
Macpherson died at the hospital in December 2014 after a St. Charles employee put the wrong medication into her IV bag.
Instead of an anti-seizure medication, Macpherson the Sisters resident was given a paralyzing agent, causing irreversible brain damage and cardiac arrest. Two days later she was taken off life support.
Coughlin said Macpherson’s two sons, 28-year-old Mark Macpherson and 33-year-old Pete Macpherson, didn’t want to prolong the process any further and opted for a settlement.
The lawyer added that the settlement brings closure for her sons, but won’t undo the loss they suffered.
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday the criminal investigation of the incident is still ongoing.
St. Charles Health System issued the following statement:
“St. Charles Health System and the family of Loretta Macpherson have reached a settlement agreement in recognition of the loss of their mother due to a medication error that took place at St. Charles Bend in December 2014.
“The terms of the agreement are confidential, but it will result in a financial payment to the family along with the placement of a bench honoring Macpherson’s memory on the hospital property.
“All of us at St. Charles are deeply sorry for the loss of life that resulted from a medication error and a breakdown in our processes,” said Joe Sluka, president and CEO of St. Charles Health System. “We hope that this settlement will bring some closure to the Macpherson family. We will continue to honor the legacy of Loretta Macpherson as we strive to improve and work to ensure that errors of this type do not occur again.”
Mark Macpherson also issued a statement:
“My brother Pete and I have come to an agreement with St. Charles Medical Center regarding the medication error that resulted in the death of our mother Loretta Macpherson.
(Coughlin clarified that only the monetary agreement and the memorial bench were part of the settlement with the hospital.)
Macpherson continued, “While these agreements will not bring our mother back, we feel that ultimately it has brought the community together demanding better healthcare and our local hospital has listened. We thank everyone who has come together to help us through this tragedy.”
NewsChannel 21’s Wanda Moore will have more on the settlement, including a planned talk with Mark Macpherson, Wednesday on NewsChannel 21.
