By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
HaysMed said Monday it had resolved a lawsuit with the daughter of a 63-year-old woman who died in the care of the hospital.
The lawsuit had requested more than $2 million in damages.
Virginia Roop was being treated for a stroke and other conditions at HaysMed when she died on March 20, 2024.
The hospital said it had no further comment on the case, and Mary Roop's attorney said they could not discuss the case.
The official court record had not been updated as of Monday.
The lawsuit alleged medical staff disconnected equipment meant to monitor Virginia Roop’s vital signs. According to the court record, family members and medical staff left the room.
When Virginia Roop was alone, she vomited.
The lawsuit alleged when Roop’s sister returned to the hospital room, she found Virginia in cardiac arrest.
Following the cardiac arrest, Roop required a tube to be inserted to help her breathe and was transferred to the intensive care unit, according to the lawsuit.
She was found to have new fluid in her lungs and had suffered a brain injury and lost all neurological response, the lawsuit said.
Roop’s family decided to withdraw care and put her on comfort measures. She died five days after her cardiac arrest, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Roop had been found on a floor, taken to another hospital and then transferred to HaysMed.
Two days before she was admitted to HaysMed, she had a carotid endarterectomy, a procedure to remove plaque buildup from the arteries in the neck to restore normal blood flow to the brain and lower the risk of a stroke, according to the lawsuit.
Medical staff members were also concerned about the possibility of sepsis and a small bowel obstruction, according to the lawsuit. Roop also suffered from acute kidney illness and metabolic acidosis, which is too much acid in body fluids.
In the hospital’s response to the lawsuit, it alleged Roop’s injuries were due to pre-existing conditions that were beyond the control of the hospital.
The lawsuit alleged the medical providers were negligent because Roop’s monitoring devices were removed, and she was left in her room alone.
It also alleged doctors’ orders were not followed.
It further said HaysMed failed to provide appropriate equipment, instructions and training to its staff and failed to ensure policies were in place and followed for safe monitoring of the patient.
The lawsuit alleged that Roop died because of HaysMed’s negligence.
The hospital denied the allegations in the lawsuit or said in its answer that it did not have sufficient information to admit or deny the assertions in the case.
Mary Roop requested medical and funeral expenses and other survivor damages, including pain, suffering and grief.