1 min read

Lt. Gov. Matt Michels Named As Defendant In Medical Lawsuit

Associated Press0

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — The family of a woman who died after a series of surgeries has named Lt. Gov. Matt Michels in his role as an attorney for Avera Health as a defendant in a federal lawsuit.

Michels tells the Argus Leader ( ) that attorney-client privilege prevents him from discussing the lawsuit.

Frances Bockholt died in 2011 after more than a dozen surgeries, including spinal procedures. A state jury awarded Bockholt’s family nearly $1 million after finding spine surgeon Allen Sossan performed unnecessary surgeries.

The lawsuit says Michels undermined a medical committee at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital. It says Michels “misled” the committee by advising members that there wasn’t enough justification to deny Sossan hospital privileges.

It says Michels incorrectly told the committee that Sossan could sue the hospital for restraint of trade.

___

Information from: Argus Leader,

The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on newsgathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.
Website http://ap.org/

Related Posts