Woman blames WVU hospitals for father's death

MORGANTOWN - A woman whose father died at West Virginia University Hospital has filed a wrongful death suit against the hospital.

Kathy Sanders filed a suit March 23 in Monongalia Circuit Court against the University of West Virginia Board of Governors, which operates the hospital.

On June 5, 2005, Junior Thomas was admitted to the hospital with pain in the groin area, nausea and vomiting. He was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia with symptoms of an obstructed bowel, the suit says.

According to the lawsuit, Thomas underwent emergency surgery. At the conclusion at the surgery, he aspirated a large volume of stomach and bowel contents. He developed aspiration pneumonia and subsequently died.

The suit claims it was the hospital's negligence and deviation from the standard of care that caused Thomas to die.

Sanders, through attorney William L. Frame, seeks judgment against the hospital in an amount that will adequately compensate the family of Thomas for the damages and losses sustained.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number 07-C-198