The fiancee of the Ebola patient who died in Dallas says she received a call from a hospital executive who expressed "regret that the hospital was not able to save his life."
Louise Troh was engaged to Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who was the first Ebola case diagnosed in the U.S. She said in a statement that she got a personal call Thursday morning from an apologetic official at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. The hospital later confirmed the call took place.
"This official said the hospital was 'deeply sorry' for the way this tragedy played out," Troh said in the statement. "I am grateful to God that this leader reached out and took responsibility for the hospital's actions. Hearing this information will help me as I mourn Eric's death."
Duncan died on Oct. 8. He initially came to Texas Health Presbyterian late on Sept. 25, but was sent home, despite a fever and other symptoms. He returned Sept. 28 in an ambulance, and was admitted and diagnosed with Ebola.
Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer and senior vice president at Texas Health Resources, which oversees Texas Health Presbyterian, apologized before Congress Thursday.
“Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes. We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. And we are deeply sorry,” he said.
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— Elizabeth Chuck