MORGANTOWN - A Harrison County couple has filed a medical malpractice suit against West Virginia University Hospitals after the husband developed severe infections after receiving care.
Charles and Sharon Elder filed a suit June 13 in Monongalia Circuit Court against Ruby Memorial Hospitals, West Virginia University Hospitals and Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.
Charles Elder was admitted to Ruby Memorial on May 1, 2005, for treatment of leukemia. He stayed in the hospital through June 2005, the suit says.
During his admission, he was placed on a low microbial diet. However, the suit claims employees of the hospital failed to follow the doctor's orders of a low microbial diet by giving him raw fruits and vegetables.
Due to the food he was given, Elder developed cutaceous infections, which required antibiotic therapy, which ultimately resulted in severe functional and cosmetic facial defects. According to the lawsuit, the defects, loss and pain are permanent in nature.
The Elders claims the employees working with Charles Elder deviated from the regular, acceptable standard of care. Sharon Elder claims she suffered, and continues to suffer, loss of consortium of her husband.
The Elders, through attorney Henry E. Wood, seek compensatory damages, reimbursement of all medical costs and other unspecified damages.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 07-C-377
Harrison couple blames WVU Hospitals for man's infections
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