Man says Star City health center to blame for wife's death

MORGANTOWN -- A Monongalia County man claims his wife died prematurely after her health care provider failed to properly diagnose her.

Alfred H. Stiller and the estate of Patricia H. Stiller are suing the Stearns Family Health Center of Star City in Monongalia County for compromising the degree of care his wife received, the skill of the doctors who helped her and the learning required to diagnose and treat her cancer accurately.

In the suit filed Jan. 6, Stiller accused the center of medical professional negligence and of the wrongful death of his wife.

The suit says Patricia Stiller passed away April 26, 2004, when her doctors did not diagnose adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, which is a malignant tumor that originates and attacks from glandular mucous membrane that lines the uterus.

Filed by Paul T. Farrell Jr. of Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, PLLC, Stiller claims even after her doctors discovered the malignancy, they still failed to treat her cancer properly. Stiller believes there was a lack of education and skill when it came to the care and treatment of his wife's adenocarcinoma, though the lawsuit did not state particulars.

Stiller and the estate are seeking a trial by jury to decide a judgment. Included in the punitive damages are sorrow, mental anguish, societal solace, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices, and advice of his deceased wife.

He is also seeking compensation for loss of income and services, including the protection, care, and assistance, he lost after his wife's death. Stiller also hopes the judgment will cover expenses from care, treatment, hospitalization, funeral costs and court costs and attorney's fees.

However, Stiller says in the suit that he does believe that no amount from the judgment he receives can ever replace those few years, months or days he might have spent with his wife had she been diagnosed, treated and cared for properly.

Monongalia County Circuit Court case number: 06-C-9