An Iowa family is grieving following the death of their father, Steve Schwarz, 67, who succumbed after what they claim was the negligence of his medical team. Schwarz underwent spinal surgery in March 2020 to relieve significant back pain; two months later, he was admitted to the hospital with symptoms indicating he had contracted MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, which is known for being resistant to many antibiotics and infects around 80,000 Americans each year.
Doctors identified the problem and prescribed the powerful antibiotic doxycycline, intended to combat the infection. The Schwarz family was hopeful when he was discharged to Cedar Manor, an inpatient care home, with instructions to continue his antibiotic treatment for two to three months. Unfortunately, according to the family's lawsuit, Dr. Michelle Sprengelmeyer, the physician at Cedar Manor, did not follow the prescribed instructions, discontinuing the medication altogether.
Three weeks later, Schwarz was rushed back to the hospital, where the medical staff were alarmed to discover the rapid progression of his condition due to the halted treatment. An inquiry revealed the failure at Cedar Manor to administer the needed antibiotics. Tragically, Schwarz was transferred to hospice care, where he passed away just four days later on June 22, 2020.
Last year, after learning of the treatment he had received, his daughter, Heather Barrett, initiated legal proceedings against the doctors involved. While the court did not find it conclusive proven their negligence directly caused his death, the jury did award her $1.65 million, acknowledging her father's deprivation of necessary care.
“When he was finally transferred [to the hospital], the infectious disease experts at the University of Iowa Hospitals were shocked to find they had discontinued his antibiotic and no one had followed up on his MRSA diagnosis. The discovery came just hours before he was moved to hospice care,” Barrett told local media. She described her father as once “thriving,” regularly taking cross-country road trips and staying active riding ATVs. The sudden unraveling of his health was baffling to the family.
Barrett reflected on the emotional toll of this experience: “We thought he was getting the care he needed after surgery. It didn’t make sense he wasn’t improving. It was too late when we discovered the infection wasn’t being treated with antibiotics. It was awful; my dad deserved much more than this.”
According to statistics, MRSA is responsible for about 11,000 deaths annually, among those infected. A significant portion of patients who acquire the infection post-surgery could recover, provided they receive proper treatment. Studies indicate approximately 80% of such patients go on to heal successfully when managed correctly.
Barrett's attorney, Anthony Bribriesco from Bribriesco Law Firm, stated: “We are pleased the jury held Dr. Sprengelmeyer accountable. Through preparation for this case, we learned the success rate for treating spinal infections involving suppressive antibiotics is nearly 80%. A simple, well-known treatment of antibiotics would have saved Steve's life.”
The infection caused by MRSA can escalate quickly if unnoticed or untamed, potentially leading to severe complications like endocarditis, characterized by inflammation of the heart's lining and valves, or sepsis, where the immune response overreacts to infections, often resulting in multi-organ failure. Barrett mourns for the father she lost too soon, emphasizing the need for vigilance and accountability within the healthcare system to prevent similar tragedies.
Dr. Sprengelmeyer and Cedar Manor were contacted for comments; they did not respond before publication. This incident starkly draws attention to the ramifications of medical oversights, leaving families to confront the aftermath of unexpected loss due to healthcare failures.