Greg Rice sues hospital over twin's death

PALM BEACH, Fla., June 13 (UPI) -- A Palm Beach, Fla., hospital is being sued by local TV pitchman Greg Rice, who claims it covered up the real reason his twin brother died.

The suit contends Good Samaritan Medical Center said John Rice, a dwarf, suffered a heart attack before undergoing leg surgery, but a recent autopsy revealed he had suffocated during a pre-operational procedure, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.

The lawsuit for alleged "outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress" names Good Samaritan as well as the anesthesiologist for the surgery, Dr. Wayne Weidenbaum, the newspaper said.

"(Dr. Wayne Weidenbaum) had to know (John Rice) didn't have a heart attack on the way to the operating room," attorney Kevin Smith told the Sun-Sentinel. "The Medical Examiner's Office was told (by the hospital and Weidenbaum) ... that there was no medical misadventure or trauma and that it was a natural death. To me, that's purposeful."

The Rice twins were the shortest twins on record at 2-feet, 10-inches tall and appeared commercials for the pest control company Hulett Environmental Services.