A Connecticut man known as a pioneer in the home improvement industry and as a beloved family man died in 2024 after suffering from squamous cell carcinoma, records show.
Francis Scott Keegan, 63, was treated at Yale New Haven Hospital for the cancer and his wife claims he died as a result of injuries he suffered that were allegedly caused by the failure of the hospital and certain medical staff to exercise the “degree of care and skill ordinarily and customarily used.”
The wrongful death suit was filed against Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health Services Corp.; while it names some medical personnel, they are not named as defendants in the suit.
The suit was filed by Slager Madry LLC of Stamford.
Attorney Joaquin L. Madry said the case was strongly vetted and screened before it was filed.
“It’s really an enormous tragedy,” Madry said. “We are proud to represent the family. We feel very strongly he could have received better care.”
Keegan’s obituary notes he, “walked through life with strength, touching the lives of everyone he encountered with an unforgettable style. To say Scott was an amazing father, brother, son, uncle, godfather and friend to all would be an understatement. Scott was truly once-in-a-lifetime who leaves behind a legacy nothing short of warmth and kindness.”
“We will all remember Scott as a titan in his industry who led with heart to create cutting-edge products that most still enjoy to this day,” the obituary said.
A spokesperson for Yale New Haven said, “Yale New Haven Health is aware of the lawsuit and extends its sincere sympathies to the family for their loss.
“We remain deeply committed to providing safe, high-quality care to every patient we serve. Because this matter is currently in litigation, we are unable to comment on the specifics of the case.”
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is the second most common form of skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. The cancer is characterized by abnormal, accelerated growth of squamous cells, according to the foundation.
“Squamous cell carcinoma occurs when DNA damage from exposure to ultraviolet radiation or other damaging agents trigger abnormal changes in the squamous cells,” according to the foundation.
The suit claims that the hospital didn’t “adequately and properly evaluate, diagnose, treat, monitor, and/or supervise the oncologic surgical care” Keegan received; didn’t present his case at a multidisciplinary tumor board meeting; didn’t achieve and verify histologic clearance before concluding a Sept. 21, 2022, operation; didn’t communicate the positive margin status to Keegan before his discharge and didn’t document “an urgent plan for re-excision and oncologic follow-up.”
Also, the suit claims, his care proceeded to reconstruction on Sept. 28, 2022, despite ”remaining unresected squamous cell carcinoma and there was delay in “re-excision and definitive oncologic treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the nose.”
Further, the suit claims care allegedly didn’t adequately and properly assess and respond to signs and symptoms of residual and/or recurrent disease, including persistent intimal nasal pain and nostril closure; didn’t adequately and properly obtain timely head and neck oncology consultation, and didn’t adequately and properly account for his “status as a renal transplant recipient,” among other claims.
The suit claims that “as a result of the carelessness and negligence of Yale-New Haven Hospital, Keegan suffered growth and extension of residual squamous cell carcinoma of the nose; metastatic disease; perineural invasion of squamous cell carcinoma; need for additional surgical procedures, palliative radiation, and chemotherapy; disfigurement; and severe pain and suffering, among other things before he died.
As a result of the claimed improper and incorrect communication of negative margin status to Keegan, he proceeded to reconstruction on Sept. 28, 2022, “despite remaining unresected squamous cell carcinoma,” the suit says.
Further, there was not adequate and proper accounting of Keegan’s status “as a renal transplant recipient on chronic immunosuppression in evaluating, treating, and monitoring his oncologic care,” the suit says.
“He will always be remembered by them as the loving, laughing, steadfast father that could always put a smile on their face, no matter what. There is never enough time but the time they had together will provide loving memories to last a lifetime,” Keegan’s obituary says.