Children's Hospital in New Orleans has apologized for its handling of information about a deadly fungus that killed five patients between 2008 and 2009 at the medical facility, according to an article on the WLOX website.
Five children died of an invasive fungal infection — mucormycosis — that contaminated hospital linens.
Hospital executives said mistakes were made in disseminating information about the fungus to the families of the children who died.
"Regrettably, it's become clear that we did not, although I think we made an extraordinary effort to contain and identify the source of this infection, we did not make an extraordinary effort to communicate with our families and disclose the nature of this illness," John Heaton, associate medical director for Children's, said in the article.
Some lawsuits have been filed as a result of the deaths. The parents of 13-year-old Zachary Tyler are suing the hospital and the linen cleaning company, TLC Service, Inc.
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