Husband sues hospital, physician for wife's death

CHARLESTON -- A man is suing Select Specialty Hospital-Charleston and a physician after he claims they are responsible for his wife's death.

On Oct. 27, 2008, Patricia R. Hunley was admitted to the hospital in stable condition to be weaned from a ventilator following discharge from Thomas Memorial Hospital, according to a complaint filed Oct. 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Mr. Hunley claims the defendants failed to properly monitor Mrs. Hunley.

During the course of her admission, one or more nurses at the hospital attempted to intervene to stop the negligent and reckless care provided to Mrs. Hunley by Dr. Majester Abdul-Jalil without success, according to the suit.

Mr. Hunley claims following the unsuccessful attempts to persuade Abdul-Jalil to significantly change his negligent plan of care, one or more nurses "went up the chain of command and alerted a supervisor and the director of nursing about the substandard care being received by Patricia Hunley."

Nonetheless, administrators failed to intervene, protect or assist Mrs. Hunley, according to the suit.

On Oct. 30, 2008, Mr. Hunley claims following repeated demands by himself, family members and the nursing staff, his wife was transferred to Charleston Area Medical Center, where she was admitted in guarded condition.

Mrs. Hunley died on Nov. 13 2008, according to the suit.

Mr. Hunley is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by C. Benjamin Salango and Dan R. Snuffer Jr.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-1947