CHARLESTON — Charleston Area Medical Center and a physician deny the allegations against them in a medical negligence case.
Dr. Mitchell N. Rashid and Charleston Area Medical Center were both named as defendants in the suit.
In their answer, the defendants claim they met or exceeded the applicable standard of care in the treatment of Stoner.
"The injuries and damages about which Plaintiff complains are the result of a natural disease process and not due to any negligence or lack of care on the part of the defendants," the answer states. "Therefore, the claims against the defendants should be dismissed with prejudice."
Melanie Cottle, as administratrix of the estate of Dremia Jean Stoner claims
Stoner sought treatment from Rashid on July 27, 2020, for a history of exertional chest pain and dyspnea and was known to have a dilated thoracic aorta, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Cottle claims Stone was not on any antianginal medications and had not had a stress test in five years and she was admitted three days later for an elective cardiac catheterization.
During the procedure, a catheter-induced arterial dissection occurred and instead of immediately treating it, Rashid decided to proceed to perform further angiography of the right coronary artery, angiography of the left coronary artery and the left ventriculography, according to the suit.
"Only after Ms. Stoner developed ST elevation and bradycardia during the procedure did Dr. Rashid decide to treat the catheter-induced dissection, which had progressed with occlusion of the right artery," the complaint states.
After the procedure, she had an episode of ventricular fibrillation with spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm, according to the suit.
Cottle claims Stoner required a repeated ECG and CPR and the cardiac catheterization lab was activated to visualize the recently placed stent. She was found to have severe stenosis of the ostial RCA, which was not stented, and a stent was then placed.
Stoner's hemodynamics did not improve and she was placed on oxygen the following day and then intubated on Aug. 2, 2020. She was found to have no brain activity and was extubated on Aug. 9, 2020, and pronounced dead.
Cottle claims Rashid's actions were medical negligence and a breach of duty.
Cottle is seeking compensatory damages. She is represented by Brian J. Headley and Robert Edward Ryan of Headley Law Firm in Daniel Island, S.C.
The defendants are represented by D.C. Offutt Jr. and Jody O. Simmons of Offutt Simmons Simonton in Huntington.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 22-C-793
