Berkeley man says prescribed medicine injured him

MARTINSBURG - A Berkeley County man has filed a medical malpractice suit against two hospitals, a health care organization and a doctor after he was injured by medicine he received while in their care.

James MacDonald filed a lawsuit Feb. 16 in Berkeley County Court, naming City Hospital, West Virginia University-East Hospital, Gateway Regional Health System and Sayeed Ahmed, M.D. as defendants.

MacDonald claims he was given a combination of several medications during a hospital stay which caused muscle weakness and deterioration.

On Oct. 29, 2004, he entered City Hospital for Type II diabetes, shortness of breath and pneumonia. The next day, he was given Lipotor, Diflucan and Cyclosporin. On Nov. 3 McDonald was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, then on Nov. 10 transferred to Winchester Medical Center.

While at Winchester, MacDonald was diagnosed with muscle weakness and acute rhabdomyolysis, which is the breakdown of muscle fibers, which in some cases can result in kidney damage.

"Mr. MacDonald's muscle weakness and acute rhabdomyolysis began during his admission at City Hospital as a result of being given the combination of Lipotor, Diflucan and Cyclosporin," the complaint states.

On Dec. 3, 2004, MacDonald was transferred to Blue Ridge Rehabilitation Center, where he was discharged on Dec. 30.

The suit states the defendants did not provide the care MacDonald was due and, in not doing so, were negligent.

MacDonald, though his counsel Barry J. Nace and D. Michael Burke, seeks compensation for his injuries in an amount to be determined by a court.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gray Silver.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-150