Tabatha’s dad questions instructions

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 | 11:17 a.m.

The father of a 13-year-old girl who died four days after being released from University Medical Center said Wednesday that the care instructions given when his daughter was discharged were inadequate.

Michael Speas said the instructions did not say how to deal with or monitor someone who had suffered a severe head injury and had recently awakened from a coma, as was the case with his daughter, auto accident victim Tabatha Speas.

The discharge instructions from UMC on Nov. 2 told the family to bring the girl to an orthopedic surgeon, pulmonary specialist and pediatrician within two weeks of leaving the hospital, Michael Speas and his attorney, John Wawerna, said.

"If the discharge instructions are to see three different specialists in the next two weeks, I don't think those are really discharge instructions for someone that had been in a coma for two weeks," Wawerna said.

When Tabatha was brought back to UMC a day after her discharge, complaining of difficulty breathing, dizziness, blurry vision and nausea, the family was sent home with instructions on how to deal with Tabatha's croup and told to buy a vaporizer, they said.

UMC officials have said they can't disclose their exact discharge instructions due to patient confidentiality laws.

Speas said that while his daughter was at UMC,nurses and doctors suggested Tabatha go to HealthSouth for inpatient rehabilitation, but he said that wasn't part of the discharge instructions.

Speas said he tried to get his daughter into HealthSouth on his own, but was told they wouldn't take Tabatha because she didn't have health insurance. Speas said a HealthSouth representative was to call him to discuss the situation, but Tabatha died before they spoke.

Chris Vito, chief executive officer for HealthSouth, said it is his company's policy to treat uninsured patients who have applied for Medicaid and are pending approval, but he said federal patient confidentiality laws prevent him from commenting specifically on Speas' medical or financial situations.

Regarding Michael Speas' statement that a HealthSouth representative planned to call Speas to discuss the situation, Vito said that reflects the company's desire "to cooperate (with applicants) and help assist families" in filling out necessary forms regarding their financial situation and other data.

Vito also confirmed that not every patient begins rehabilitation immediately after being discharged from a hospital.

"Patients must be stable and appropriate for rehab," he said. "We begin (rehabilitation) as soon as possible, but only when it is determined that a patient is ready."

Speas also said he thinks the lack of health insurance prompted UMC doctors to send his daughter home earlier than they should have.

UMC officials have repeatedly said Tabatha's insurance status did not influence her care, or when she was discharged.

Speas is awaiting autopsy results before deciding whether to sue the hospital over Tabatha's Nov. 6 death. The Clark County coroner's office today said the results of toxicology tests from the autopsy are pending and that a cause has not yet been determined.

Tabatha's case also is being reviewed by the state Department of Human Resources Health Division.

Tabatha and her friend, Adriana Lauzon, also 13, were struck by a car as they crossed Shinnecock Hills Avenue near Tucci Street in the southwestern corner of the valley on Oct. 15. Both girls were flown by helicopter to UMC.

Lauzon died at UMC on Oct. 21.

Tabatha was in a coma until Oct. 31, and was discharged two days later on a Sunday. She returned to UMC late Monday and was sent home again early Tuesday. Tabatha died at home two days later.

"UMC did a fabulous job saving her life," he said. "Keeping her alive is another thing."