Thomas Eric Duncan’s family settles with Texas hospital that sent him home with Ebola: attorney

Family members of the Liberian national who died of Ebola after traveling to the U.S. reached a settlement with the Dallas hospital that initially sent him home despite his symptoms, an attorney said Wednesday.

The lawyer, Les Weisbrod, said Texas Health Resources will set up a charitable fund in memory of Thomas Eric Duncan, who died Oct. 8.

Other details of the settlement and an apology letter to the family will remain confidential, he said.

“This has been a tragic loss for Thomas Eric Duncan’s children, parents and entire family. Mr. Duncan was not initially correctly diagnosed with the Ebola virus at the time he was discharged home on his first emergency room visit,  which creates liability,” Mr. Weisbrod said. “Mr. Duncan was unaware that he had the Ebola virus, which ultimately caused his death when he was inappropriately sent home from the hospital.”

Mr. Weisbrod said Duncan had four children ages 12 to 22. Two of them live in the U.S., and two reside in West Africa.

Duncan traveled to Texas in late September and went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital after he fell ill. He was sent home with antibiotics, despite his links to West Africa, and came back a few days later in the throes of Ebola symptoms.

He tested positive and later died, and two nurses who treated him were diagnosed with the virus. Both of them, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, were cured under specialized treatment.

Officials have said Duncan likely contracted Ebola in Liberia when he assisted a woman who had fallen down while ill.

He attested in travel documents that he had no contact with Ebola patients. While Liberian officials said that was a lie, Duncan’s family says he didn’t know he had come in contact with the disease.

Mr. Weisbrod said Wednesday that Duncan’s nephew, Josephus Weeks, would like the new fund to help people reeling from Ebola in Africa. He also would like to see a treatment center built in Duncan’s memory in Liberia.