Relatives of Montana man sue hospital over death

Relatives of a Montana man who died of a drug overdose following surgery at a hospital in Cody, Wyo., have filed a federal lawsuit claiming negligence by the hospital and medical personnel who gave him an opiate patch. The estate of Russell Monaco, represented by Monaco’s wife and brother, filed the federal lawsuit Monday in Cheyenne.
The lawsuit says an autopsy found Monaco, 47, of Billings, died at his home in late 2011 the day after he was discharged from West Park Hospital of a drug overdose caused by the patch and other drugs he was prescribed. A filing that Monaco’s estate made with the Wyoming Medical Review Panel states that the plaintiffs calculate damages at more than $14 million.