Family of heart patient who died after missing medications in jail settles lawsuit
The family of Dexter Barry, a 54-year-old heart transplant recipient who was not given crucial medications during a two-day jail stay, has settled its lawsuit for $300,000. The Tributary, a Florida-based independent newspaper, first reported on the update.
Barry was arrested after a disagreement with his neighbor in November 2022, two years after receiving a long-awaited heart transplant. According to the lawsuit, he repeatedly told the police officer who arrested him as well as employees with Duval County Jail and Armor Correctional Health Services, the company in charge of the jail’s healthcare needs, that he needed to take his doctor-prescribed immunosuppressants each day. They never provided Barry with those medications, however, and he died just a few days after being released.
The lawsuit also referenced an appointment Barry had with his physician in April 2022. Barry’s heart was in “excellent condition” at the time, according to the doctor who saw him, and his body was “responding well” to the operation.
For the full story, which includes an interview with an area cardiologist and additional context about Duval County Jail and Armor Correctional Health Services, click the link below:
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.