MOUNDSVILLE – Another lawsuit was filed against Dr. Roland Chalifoux by a patient who alleges he was injured due to a procedure.
Billy Ray Lancaster had a procedure performed by Chalifoux on May 16, 2018, after having treatment at Valley Pain Management for the 14 months prior, according to a complaint filed in Marshall Circuit Court.
Lancaster claims Chalifoux performed a facet joint radiofrequency lesioning and intraoperative use of fluoroscopy and the defendant was aware he was taking Plavix and Warfarin at the time of the procedure.
Chalifoux allegedly never told Lancaster to stop taking Plavix and later in the day after the procedure, he presented to Wetzel County Hospital with chest pain and shortness of breath and was transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted for a left hemothorax, according to the suit.
Lancaster claims his injuries were caused by Chalifoux failing to tell him to stop taking his medication before the procedure.
The plaintiff suffered significant mental and emotional distress as a result of the defendant's negligence, according to the suit.
"As a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Roland F. Chalifoux Jr., D.O., the plaintiff ... has suffered significant mental and emotional distress and is reasonably certain to continue to suffer significant physical pain on an ongoing and permanent basis into the future," the complaint states.
Lancaster is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is represented by Geoffrey C. Brown and Tyler J. Smith of Bordas & Bordas in Wheeling.
Chalifoux has been named in several lawsuits over the last several years. Federal prosecutors dismissed counts on a federal indictment against Chalifoux in November 2018.
The United States' unopposed motion to dismiss said the parties agreed to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement where Chalifoux agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $28,606.75 and the United States agreed to dismiss the remaining health care fraud charges.
Marshall Circuit Court case number 19-C-245
