Carbon-monoxide poisoning kills Burien man

A 24-year-old man who survived nearly a month after a fatal amount of carbon monoxide killed his family has died. He's the eighth person in Western Washington to die of carbon-monoxide poisoning since the wintry weather hit late last year.

Doanh Tran died on Saturday. He; his father, Khanh Tran, 46; his mother, Dan Thuy Nguyen, 44; and two of his brothers, 21-year-old Quyen Tran and 14-year-old John Quoc Tran, were found inside their Burien home Dec. 18.

The family is believed to have been poisoned by a generator that was left running in their garage during a massive power outage last month. All but Doanh Tran were dead when authorities arrived.

Doanh Tran had been working at a grocery-store warehouse to save money so he could bring his wife and 1-month-old son to the United States. He graduated from Evergreen High School in 2001.

Doanh Tran's third brother, 19-year-old Canh Tran, was not at the home over the weekend his family was killed. He is a student living on campus at the University of Washington.

Federal Way

District shortens midwinter break

The Federal Way School District will shorten its February midwinter break to help make up some of the eight days it canceled classes because of bad weather.

Classes will be held Feb. 22 and 23 as well as the following days: this Friday; March 16; and May 29.

The district also is applying for a state waiver for three windstorm-related days last month.

The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced this month an emergency amendment to state law that would allow school districts that canceled classes related to a governor-declared state of emergency — such as the November floods and the December windstorm — to apply to waive makeup days.

Seattle

UW students back conduct proposal

University of Washington students voiced approval Tuesday of expanding on-campus conduct policies to events that take place off campus for certain student transgressions.

Those include serious crimes such as physical or sexual assault and other offenses deemed particularly harmful to the UW community. The advisory vote came from the Associated Students of the UW, the student government representing undergraduates. A recommendation on student conduct codes will be presented to UW President Mark Emmert in the next few weeks, and the UW may make a decision on whether to change the codes in the coming months.

Olympia

Doctor can practice, with supervision

A Seattle physician who allegedly injured patients by performing unnecessary spinal surgery may resume his medical practice, with supervision for two years, the state Department of Health has ruled.

Dr. Solomon Kamson, an anesthesiologist who practices at the Spine Institute Northwest in Bothell, was suspended from medical practice in November.

The state alleged Kamson failed to inform patients about risks of procedures and misrepresented his qualifications. He permanently injured at least three patients, the state alleged.

Kamson has agreed that his surgical patients for two "minimally invasive" spinal procedures will obtain second opinions and that his first 25 procedures will be overseen by specialists. He also has to pay a fine and undergo quarterly reviews.

"I am qualified to do what I do; otherwise I wouldn't get my license back," Kamson said. "This is not a restriction {$326} these steps are being taken and have been agreed to by all parties."

Kamson also agreed to discontinue use of nonstandard electrical diagnostic equipment and to ensure patients give informed consent to procedures.

Times staff and news services