SANTA ROSA, Calif. — The family of a 23-year-old Santa Rosa man who died after he contracted the H1N1 flu virus says his illness wasn't accurately diagnosed until it was too late to possibly save his life.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports Matthew Walker was admitted to a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Santa Rosa on Dec. 27 after he reported breathing difficulties. The previous day he was sent home from the hospital after he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Walker's family says Kaiser doctors didn't discover Walker had the "swine flu" until after he was put into a medically induced coma before his death Wednesday.
Walker's sister, Ruth Bell, said Saturday her brother's death is a "devastating loss" and "there is some anger."
Kaiser officials said Saturday they couldn't comment on the case, citing patient confidentiality.