The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics will pay a $1.65 million out-of-court settlement to a patient who was paralyzed from the chest down when UW doctors treated him with the wrong cancer medication in November 1999.

Otis Williams, a 69-year-old man from La Farge, was reportedly injected with vincristine, a chemotherapy agent that results in serious complications when administered to a patient’s spinal fluid. Williams was treated with the agent by mistake while receiving a different type of chemotherapy.

The medication was administered after Williams had received the appropriate spinal-fluid injection of methotrexate, another chemotherapy agent, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday.

Though the medication was quickly removed from Williams’ body after the mistake was discovered, he will remain paralyzed for the rest of his life and considers the settlement minor compensation.

“It’s just money. Money doesn’t bring my legs back. I’d much rather have my legs,” Williams told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Sure, I’m very happy that at least I got that (the money).”

Keith Clifford, Williams’ attorney, told the Wisconsin State Journal the mistake was caused when Joseph Theisen, UW Hospital and Clinics Pharmacy Supervisor, directed staff not to use a special warning label on the medication. Clifford also said the manufacturer’s red “over-wrap” warned doctors and pharmacists that vincristine was fatal if injected into spinal fluid.

Clifford also said Williams and his wife, Darlene Williams, were awarded $500,000 by an insurance company before the suit was filed against UW Hospital and Clinics.