2 Dec 2011

Guam hospital faces legal action

10:19 am on 2 December 2011

The Guam Memorial Hospital has been sued for negligence by the family of a 23 year old woman who died at the hospital in 2009.

The lawsuit, brought by the estate of Tallia Montgomery, alleges that she was administered an improper amount of morphine under the supervision of a doctor who was on the "excluded" list of providers who could treat patients who receive federal funding.

According to the suit, the doctor, Vincent Duenas, has previously over-prescribed a dangerous controlled substance to a prior patient, and was placed on the list.

Montgomery was given at least 12 milligrams of morphine within a 12-hour period.

Rey Vega, the hospital's administrator, declined to comment on the case.