Hospital Is Faulted in Bacteria Death

A hospital waited too long to diagnose and treat a woman who became infected with so-called flesh-eating bacteria and died 18 days after giving birth, health regulators said. Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., failed to provide proper care for Susan Dougherty, who fell into a coma in the maternity ward two days after delivering a healthy girl on Feb. 17, said state Health Commissioner Barbara DeBuono. Her department will waive an $8,000 fine if the hospital makes a series of changes in its medical procedures aimed at preventing such a recurrence. Dougherty’s family is preparing to sue the hospital for damages.