Roane woman blames doctor, EMS for daughter's death

CHARLESTON -- A Roane County woman is suing a doctor and Roane County Emergency Services for her daughter's death.

Carrie Moore, an executrix of her daughter Leitha Moore's estate, filed a lawsuit Aug. 20 in U.S. District Court against Dr. Carroll D. Christianson and Roane County Emergency Services.

Carrie Moore claims Christianson and Roane County Emergency Services were negligent in their care of Leitha Moore, which lead to her death.

In the complaint, Carrie Moore says Leitha Moore was under the care of Christianson from 2001 until Feb. 23, 2006, the day of her death.

Carrie Moore claims Christianson had a "duty to exercise that degree of care, skill, and learning required or expected of a reasonable, prudent health care provider in the profession or class to which Dr. Christianson belongs, acting in the same or similar circumstances," the suit says.

Because Christianson failed to exercise the degree of care expected, Leisha Moore's medical condition deteriorated, according to the complaint.

Christianson's care ultimately led to Leisha Moore's death, according to the suit.

The day before she died, Leitha Moore received medical care, treatment and transportation emergency services from Roane County Emergency Services, according to the complaint.

But Carrie Moore claims RCES "was negligent and careless in its staffing, transport and care of Leitha Moore."

"RCES's failure to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning required or expected of a reasonable, prudent health care provider, and medical services provider during the services it provided to Leitha Moore was a cause-in-fact, and a proximate result of her rapidly deteriorating medical condition, and her ultimate death," according to the complaint.

Before Leisha Moore died, she was in pain and suffered in agony, Carrie Moore claims in the suit.

Carrie Moore seeks compensatory damages for Leitha Moore's consciously perceived pain and suffering; to compensate the plaintiff and others persons entitled for sorrow, mental anguish, and solace, which may include society, companionship, comfort, guidance, and advice of the decedent; for reasonably expected loss of the decedent's income; services, protection, care, and assistance provided by the decedent; expenses for the care, treatment, and hospitalization of the decedent incident to her death; reasonable funeral expenses; and general damages.

Moore is represented by Morgantown attorney David M. Jecklin.

U.S. District Court case number: 2:08-cv-01011