A family is suing a hospital in Oregon, claiming medical negligence led to the death of their 18-year-old son.
According to the lawsuit, Ethan Cantrell was cutting wood and was stabbed with debris in his right arm in August 2024.
Cantrell was taken to the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where a doctor reportedly flushed the wound with saline, sutured it tightly, took an X-ray and prescribed antibiotics.
However, the lawsuit claims that Cantrell later had pain, swelling and a fever. According to the family, the man’s mother called the hospital, where a nurse told them he likely had COVID. The next day, she called again and was told to return to the emergency room.
The lawsuit alleges the same doctor saw Cantrell again, but did not remove the sutures or add more antibiotics.
A second doctor then allegedly examined the 18-year-old and found 12 pieces of twigs, pine needles and moss, which were sealed inside the wound.
The doctor removed the debris and Cantrell was eventually flown to the Oregon Health and Science University, where doctors tried to save his life by amputating his arm and shoulder, the lawsuit said. However, the infection continued, and he died three days later.
The family is seeking a total of $100 million from the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.