Mid-Columbia Medical Center and two of its administrators have settled a civil case brought by four female patients seeking damages for molestation by a former anesthesiologist while under sedation.The amount of the settlement is confidential, but one former patient, Ashley Hovde of Hood River, said her amount was in the six figures, even after attorney’s fees.
The case was scheduled to go to trial this week.
A year ago, three other former patients went to trial against the hospital and two administrators, alleging they should have known about and prevented the abuse perpetrated by Dr. Fredrick Field.
A jury awarded the women $2.4 million in compensatory damages and found the hospital liable for injury of the women, but determined administrators did not act negligently.
No punitive damages were awarded.
Portland attorney Greg Kafoury’s law firm represents women in the case just settled as well as last year’s lawsuit.
He said, “Because of the verdict in the other cases that went to trial we were able to secure a settlement which provides justice for the four patients that we still represented. And so we’re thankful that the first jury did the right thing with regard to the hospital’s liability and we’re glad that we were able to create a public record showing the role that the administrators played in this tragedy.”
MCMC President and CEO Duane Francis, who, along with Diane Storby, vice president of operations, was personally sued, said, “We would have preferred to have presented these cases to a jury, because we felt we had a very, very strong defense.
“We were absolutely confident a jury would have ruled in our favor. Unfortunately, the decision to try a case or settle out of court is not always in the hands of the people who are affected most by the outcome.”
Hovde had surgery in November 2010 and filed suit about a year later. She was one of 11 women Field was found guilty of sexually abusing. He was found guilty of raping another. All 12 were under sedation at the time. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Hovde said the abuse and its legal aftermath have been a “long, tough and painful road” and have changed her permanently.
“It’s heartbreaking, life changing and irreversible,” she said. “It affects every aspect of your life. Your relationships with family and friends, doctors, hospital, none will ever be the same.”
She added, “I know I’m left with the memories and mistrust in people from this and I’ll never ever be put to sleep for another surgery, ever!”
In all, 12 women filed suit against Mid-Columbia Medical Center. Not all were involved in the criminal trial. All but two have now settled or been resolved at trail.
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