Judge approves settlement in lawsuit against steroids doctor
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A former West Columbia doctor who admitted he conspired to give steroids to NFL players has agreed to pay $200,000 to the family of a man who died after receiving controversial treatments while under his care.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Perry approved the settlement Thursday for Janet Bate, who sued James M. Shortt in March for negligence in the July 2004 death of her husband.
Michael Bate, 66, came to Shortt in November 2003, seeking treatments for his advanced prostate cancer.
Shortt gave the man intravenous hydrogen-peroxide treatments, falsely diagnosed him as having Lyme disease and advised Bate how to obtain and use Laetrile, a banned drug, the lawsuit said. He also prescribed Bate a cream containing testosterone.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts determined the cancer ultimately caused Bate's death. But, according to Janet Bate's lawsuit, the testosterone treatment actually caused the cancer to rapidly advance and accelerate her husband's death about six weeks later.
The settlement will be covered by Shortt's malpractice insurance, which provides a maximum of $200,000 coverage in each lawsuit. Shortt has "no financial resources to satisfy any verdict above the insurance coverage," according to court documents.
Janet Bate also settled a second lawsuit against Shortt which did not need the court's approval. She will receive $175,000 in that case, The (Columbia) State reports.
Shortt was in federal court Monday, receiving a sentence of one year and one day in prison for illegally conspiring to prescribe steroids to NFL players
Shortt told the court Wednesday he will appeal the sentence, which means he won't go to prison until the appeals are resolved, a process Chief U.S. District Judge Joe Anderson said could take a year and a half.
Shortt pleaded guilty in March to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Prosecutors have said current and former members of the Carolina Panthers were some of Shortt's patients.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped 42 other counts against Shortt.
Anderson also ordered Shortt to pay the minimum fine, $500. He also will serve two years on supervised release.
Shortt also faces a state criminal investigation in the 2004 death of a Minnesota woman who died three days after receiving intravenous hydrogen peroxide to help her multiple sclerosis. Shortt has been sued by the family of Katherine Bibeau, whose death has been ruled a homicide.
The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners revoked Shortt's medical license in May.
