Family Demands Answers in Sleep-Study Death

Feb. 10, 2010— -- Two weeks after a man's death during an Atlanta sleep study, family members said they're pressuring Emory Healthcare to provide them with answers.

"The thing that's most paramount ... is that this should never happen to anyone else," the man's uncle, John Lewis, said.

Brandon Harris, 25, died Jan. 23 as an outpatient, sleep-study participant at the Emory Clinic Sleep Disorders Center.

His medical history included diabetes but his doctor recommended Harris for the study and deemed him healthy enough to participate, Lewis said.

As part of the sleep study, a camera was present in the room to monitor Harris' sleep. Lewis, the only family member who has seen the video, said it appeared that his nephew was waving multiple times in distress, getting no response.

"We saw him sit up just a little bit enough to wave his hand in some type of, I'm saying distressed but there was no audio," he said.

Lewis said he watched Harris wave his hand six or seven different times. He said he believes the medical staff at the center waited too long to help his nephew.

"I just can't describe, you know, the pain to know what a wonderful young man he was, how tender and loving he was to just not get the care that he needed at that time," he said.

In a written statement released Monday, Emory Healthcare officials said, "At all times during the sleep study, Mr. Harris was monitored and the providers appropriately attended to him."

He died of sudden cardiac arrest, according to the statement from Emory Healthcare, which is the largest health care system in Georgia.

Emory declined to answer questions or comment further on the specific care for Harris or the allegations surrounding his death.

The man's mother has hired an attorney.