HUNTINGTON -– A Lincoln County woman whose husband died from a heart attack only hours after being released from St. Mary's Medical Center has filed suit against the hospital and one of its doctors.
Rhonda Dalton Isaacs claims her husband, 52-year-old Clyde Dalton, first visited the emergency room at Cabell Huntington Hospital on Dec. 14, 2006, with complaints of chest pain localized to his left chest and that radiated to his left jaw and arm.
After Dalton's stress test came back normal, he was released from the hospital on Dec. 15, 2006, according to the complaint filed Jan. 15 in Cabell Circuit Court.
When Dalton again began experiencing severe chest that caused nausea, he visited St. Mary's hospital on Dec. 17, 2006, the suit states.
He underwent a left heart catheterization performed by Dr. Mark Studeny, Isaacs claims.
Upon review of the test, Studeny determined it showed no sign of significant cardiac disease, and Dalton was released on Dec. 19, 2006, according to the complaint.
Later in the day, Dalton died while at home, the suit states.
An autopsy revealed Dalton had triple vessel coronary artery disease and significant blockages of his heart, especially in the left ventricle, Isaacs claims.
"The medical examiner determined Mr. Dalton's death was a result of a heart attack," the suit states.
Because of Dalton's death, Isaacs and Dalton's son, Brandon, will be deprived of his society, companionship, comfort, guidance, advice, services, protection, attention and care, according to the complaint.
They have also suffered great mental anguish, sorrow and grief and have incurred $7,000 in funeral bills, the suit states.
St. Mary's and Studeny were negligent by failing to recognize significant blockages, especially in the left main artery of Dalton's heart and by failing to identify a myocardial bridge, according to the complaint.
Isaacs claims St. Mary's and Studeny also negligently failed to properly monitor Dalton's condition and failed to provide a further cardiac workup on Dalton.
Isaacs is seeking a judgment for medical expenses, pre-death pain and suffering and the loss of Dalton's society, companionship, comfort, guidance, advice, services, protection, attention and care.
She is also seeking a judgment for mental anguish, sorrow and grief, funeral bills, attorney's fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief to which she may be entitled.
Frank Venezia and Jamie F. Little of Shaffer and Shaffer in Madison will be representing her.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 09-C-0032
Lincoln Co. woman sues St. Mary's over husband's death
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