UI Health Care to pay $1.3M to heart attack patient’s family
IOWA CITY — University of Iowa Health Care has agreed to pay $1.3 million to the family of a 41-year-old Benton County woman who died in the hospital following a heart attack in 2022, according to a settlement approved by the Iowa Board of Appeals. “The parties recognized the risks and costs to both sides of further litigation and a settlement was reached,” according to Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Peterzalek — referencing the protracted lawsuit filed more than two years ago in July 2024, which came two years after Stephanie Earle, 41, went to the ER on July 1, 2022. About 8 p.m. that day, Earle was rushed by ambulance to Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton — as she had been struggling to breathe — and became unresponsive on the way, according to the lawsuit. “She was noted to be in pulseless ventricular tachycardia, was defibrillated several times en route to Virginia Gay Hospital and CPR was in progress upon arrival,” the lawsuit reported. “Stephanie required intubation at Virginia Gay Hospital, however — following CPR and defibrillation — Stephanie was awake, moving her head, and attempting to speak while at Virginia Gay Hospital.” She had been a smoker, had high
