Brian McKeel’s Wife Recounts His COVID-19 Hospital Care and Death

In July 2021, my husband-- I'm sorry.

Brian McKeel became seriously ill with COVID-19.

His symptoms began on July first and worsened rapidly.

By July tenth, he was admitted to the emergency room for low oxygen levels.

He was then transferred to a hospital in Sarasota after testing positive for COVID.

Early in his hospitalization, Brian requested hydroxychloroquine and budeside, but was told no, there was a better option, and was treated with remdesivir, oxygen support, steroids, and antibiotics.

Then he was moved to the ICU on July sixteenth.

On July twenty-second, Brian was placed on a ventilator despite expressing his fa-- to his family members that he did not want to be ventilated.

They told us if he didn't immediately go on the vent, he would die.

Under duress, we were forced to make a decision without all the facts.

The doctor was standing there with the ventilator as we spoke.

They said this would simply give his lungs a break.

We were not informed of the severity of his condition or that he would be placed on complete life support.

As Brian deteriorated, our family was told to prepare for the worst.

Believing we had exhausted all options, we requested ivermectin as a compassionate treatment.

Physicians initially refused, citing insufficient evidence of COVID-19 treatment.

One doctor ultimately agreed to administer a compassionate care dose on July twenty-fifth, followed by a second the next day.

After those doses, we were told Brian's fever had resolved, his white blood count had improved, his kidneys were stabilizing, he was tolerating food, and certain oxygen me-measures had improved.

Despite these improvements, physicians refused to continue treatment, stating it was outside their protocol and would not be approved.

Our family pleaded to the entire hospital care team, which included two doctors, a vice president and chief medical officer of the hospital, a pharmacist, a patient advocate, a lawyer, the risk management team, and a Zoom attendant for continuation of ivermectin.

We offered to sign waivers and emphasi-emphasized this was a life or death situation.

The patient advocate said, "All they want is ivermectin." The director asked the pharmacist about side effects, and after being told there were none, he looked at the doctor and nodded, "Okay."

After those two doses were-- we were denied any additional doses of ivermectin.

Brian may have also been a candidate for ECMO, which is an advanced life support treatment offered at larger hospitals.

However, this possibility wasn't meaningful-- meaningfully discussed until his condition had severely declined and it was too late for a transfer.

We were told by the doctor that none of the seven patients that went on this treatment in Sarasota survived.

Why were, why were transfer options not explored sooner?

Due to hospital restrictions, I was unable to be by his side or request for clergy visitation. That was denied. And nursing staff told us to limit calls to twice daily despite his critical condition.

We believe this deprived him of critical spiritual and family support during most of this difficult time of his life.

Near the end, hospice care was discussed as a comfort measure, but we were not clearly informed that this could involve-- would involve life-sustaining interventions.

Only after further questioning did we understand those implications and Brian's decline. My husband passed away on August third, '21.

My young daughters and I were forced to say goodbye over a iPad.

We are asking for greater oversight, transparency, informed consent protections, compassionate treatment access, stronger patient and family advocacy, as well as the right to try during medical crises.

We firmly believe Brian may have survived had he not been denied the medication that appeared to be helping.

Life-saving options should not be withheld when families consent and no meaningful alternatives remain.

We believe a homicide occurred, and we hope that justice will be served. Thank you.