Clay Co. man says doctors performed unnecessary tracheostomy

BECKLEY -- A Clay County man has sued two physicians, claiming they performed an unnecessary procedure on him.

Thomas Eagle filed suit Jan. 14 in Raleigh Circuit Court against Dr. David Blaine and Dr. Nikunj Patel as the defendants. Eagle, a resident of Clay County, is accusing the defendants of medical negligence.

According to Eagle, he came under the care of the two doctors in December 2012 with complaints of abdominal pain. Eagle says he was given the drug lisinopril for hypertension. The drug apparently caused his tongue to swell so the doctors admitted him to the operating room and performed a tracheostomy.

Eagle claims the tracheostomy was a mistake and amounts to negligence. The swelling in Eagle's tongue was allegedly subsiding and he believes the tracheostomy was unnecessary.

Eagle is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages. He is being represented by attorney Richard D. Lindsay.

Raleigh Circuit Court case number 14-C-29-B