Florida TV twin allowed to sue hospital

PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A Florida judge has given the world's shortest twin permission to sue a hospital for the death of his diminutive brother.

Greg Rice, 53, is seeking damages from Good Samaritan Medical Center for the 2005 death of his brother, John.

The 2-foot-10 siblings were listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the world's shortest twins, a bit of minor celebrity they parlayed into television ads and infomercials, the Palm Beach Post said.

Circuit Court Judge Thomas Barkdull ruled Friday that Rice can proceed with the lawsuit, rejecting hospital arguments that only spouses or children under 25 can sue for wrongful death in a malpractice case.

John Rice died while in the hospital for surgery on a broken ankle. The Post said an investigation revealed that his oxygen supply had been cut off when a breathing tube was inserted.