The family of controversial "father of daytrading" and so called
"SOES bandit", Harvey Houtkin, is suing the San Diego hospital where
he died. After his death following "uneventful emergency
surgery", a doctor who worked at the hospital sent an anonymous email to
the San Diego Medical Examiner alleging “erroneous, misleading and perhaps
fraudulent” information on Houtkin’s death certificate. According to the
San Diego Union Tribune:
Caregivers at Sharp Grossmont Hospital incorrectly adjusted the breathing tube of finance author Harvey Houtkin after his tonsil surgery July 25, then denied that they did so in an alleged cover-up of his suffocation death, according to a lawsuit.
Officials of the La Mesa hospital denied to family members that a respiratory therapist had moved the tube in his airway while he was in the recovery room shortly after surgery, “despite clear evidence in the medical records about this maneuver,” according to a lawsuit filed by family members.
Sharp officials disagree with the allegations. “We are confident there have been no cover-ups or misrepresentations on the part of any Sharp HealthCare representatives,” said spokesman John Cihomsky….
The lawsuit blames Taylor for listing the cause of death on the death certificate as the abscess near his tonsils and his “medical history,” rather than movement of the tube by the respiratory therapist. Thus, “the San Diego County Coroner declined the opportunity to perform an autopsy and investigation into the death of Mr. Houtkin,” the lawsuit says.
“As a result of this attempt by officials of Sharp HealthCare to cover-up their obvious medical errors and to deceive the family about the true cause of Mr. Houtkin’s death, Mr. Houtkin’s famly was forced to obtain the services of a private pathologist to perform an autopsy.”
A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.
Family sues Sharp Grossmont Hospital
- San Diego Union Tribune
RIP: Harvey Houtkin 1948 – 2008; Controversial "father of
daytrading" / SOES bandit dies after surgery; was the hospital at fault?
- Wall Street Folly
Tags: Legal
