The Iowa Board of Appeals has authorized a $1.5 million settlement payment to resolve a medical negligence lawsuit filed against University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following a patient’s death. The case involved 75-year-old Bounthath Phetsomphou, who suffered severe oxygen deprivation for 15-20 minutes after falling from her hospital bed in January 2019.

According to court documents, Phetsomphou had recently undergone surgery for a cancerous lesion when she was transferred from intensive care to an acute care unit. The lawsuit, filed by her daughter in 2022, alleged this transfer constituted improper medical judgment given the patient’s condition and contributed directly to the incident that led to her death days later.

While university healthcare representatives had prepared expert testimony asserting their care met applicable medical standards, the judicial approval of the settlement agreement precluded the necessity for the scheduled trial. The settlement terms include the family’s agreement to dismiss the case with prejudice, preventing any future litigation regarding the incident.