DeCosta, Billy

A diabetic; entered Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for outpatient surgery to remove a cyst that had grown where dialysis tubes entered his arm. Despite twice requesting an interpreter and also requesting local rather than general anesthesia, the hospital not only ignored his requests but gave him extra doses of anesthesia simply because he was deaf and restless. His heart stopped during the otherwise routine surgery, and he died after a day in a coma. His family members sued the hospital for discrimination and malpractice, and an out-of-court settlement was reached in May 2000.