Quaids Settle Suit Over Hospital Mishap

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Lawyers for Dennis Quaid's twins have settled their lawsuit with Cedars-Sinai, the hospital that gave the newborn babies what might have been a lethal dose of Heparin, a blood-thinner, in November 2007. TMZ reports that Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberly have agreed to a $500,000 settlement with the hospital.

A petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in May shows the settlement will be divided evenly between the twins, Zoe Grace and Thomas Boone. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has also agreed to provide free medical care for any issues arising from the Heparin overdose in November 2007.

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The Quaid Twins Scare

Dennis Quaid and his wife agreed to a $750,000 settlement stemming from the Heparin overdose their twins received while being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2007.

Peter Kramer, AP

Quaid and his wife Kimberly's newborn twins were given a massive dose of a blood thinning drug last year as treatment for a staph infection. The incident brought publicity to the issue of errors with medicines in hospitals.

x17online.com

Quaid appeared before Congress to recount the terrifying details of his newborn twins' near-fatal overdose. The actor spoke out against government regulations that protect drug companies from lawsuits like his.

Lawrence Jackson, AP

The twins were given the overdose at the prestigious Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They received 10,000 units of Heparin instead of the intended 10 units. The babies recovered.

Nick Ut, AP

Quaid and his wife also sued Baxter Healthcare, the maker of Heparin, alleging the company was negligent by packaging different dosages similarly. Here, the bag of Heparin on the left is 25-times more concentrated than the one on the right. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed.

Scott Linnett, San Diego Union-Tribune / ZUMA Press

The drug can be fatal to infants, and the court documents say the twins have "not recovered completely from the effects of the injuries." They further suggest "the overdose has subjected the [children] to emotional and possible future injuries..."

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times last year, Quaid said he was misled by the hospital, being told by staff that the twins were "fine" while doctors rushed to treat the overdose. He first learned of the medical error the next morning.

"Our kids could have been dying, and we wouldn't have been able to come down to the hospital to say goodbye," he said.

Quaid and Kimberly Buffington previously settled their dispute with Cedars-Sinai last December for $750,000. A hospital spokeswoman says she did not have any information on the twins' lawsuit beyond what's in the public record.

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Dennis Quaid Snapshots

In this photo released by Harpo Productions, Inc., talk-show host Oprah Winfrey interviews actor Dennis Quaid during a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago on Feb. 19, 2009. The shows air nationally on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Harpo Productions, Inc., George Burns) **MANDATORY CREDIT: Copyright 2009, George Burns/Harpo Productions NO SALES**

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Dennis Quaid appears at the 17th Annual Alzheimer's Association's "A Night at Sardi's" at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dennis Quaid

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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Dennis Quaid arrives at the 17th Annual Alzheimer's Association's "A Night at Sardi's" at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dennis Quaid

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Actor Dennis Quaid attends the Alzheimer's Association's 17th annual "A Night at Sardi's" fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night at Sardi's" Fundraiser Beverly Hilton Hotel Beverly Hills, CA United States March 4, 2009 Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com To license this image (56901574), contact FilmMagic.com

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com

Dennis Quaid attends The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night At Sardi's" Fundraiser And Awards Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night At Sardi's" - Inside Beverly Hilton Hotel Beverly Hills, CA United States March 4, 2009 Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage.com To license this image (56902108), contact WireImage.com

Todd Williamson/WireImage.com

Dennis Quaid arrives at The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night At Sardi's" at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night At Sardi's" - Arrivals Beverly Hilton Hotel Beverly Hills, CA United States March 4, 2009 Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage.com To license this image (56901809), contact WireImage.com

Todd Williamson/WireImage.com

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Dennis Quaid arrives at the The Alzheimer's Association's 17th Annual "A Night At Sardi's" on March 4,2009 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dennis Quaid

Getty Images

2009-06-19 21:40:38

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