Hospital sued for negligence

CHARLESTON - A Calhoun County woman claims she was mistreated by a Charleston nursing care and rehabilitation center.

Nancy Sigmon filed a lawsuit Sept. 7 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Select Specialty Hospital-Charleston, alleging the treatment she received while a patient there was substandard.

She says that from Aug. 3-Sept. 9, 2004, she was a patient at Select Specialty Hospital "for the purposes of receiving quality care and treatment and rehabilitation after a hospitalization and surgery resulting from an (all-terrain vehicle)."

Sigmon says the accident left her paraplegic and relied on hospital staff to turn and reposition her in her bed and chair.

However, she adds that the staff left her in the same position for long periods of time, which led to pressure wounds on her skin.

Sigmon says her wounds then were not treated.

She is suing for pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, physical impairment, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, aggravation of existing diseases and physical defects and medical expenses.

"During her residency at Select, Ms. Signon suffered serious injuries from a pattern of poor care, neglect and abuse rendered by Select and its staff, which injuries included pressure ulcers, which were caused by the neglect and abuse of Ms. Sigmon during her residency," the complaint says.

In addition to compensatory damages, Sigmon is seeking punitive damages and is represented by Erin Winter of Charleston law firm Bell and Bands.

Judge Tod Kaufman has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-1824