CHARLESTON – A Beckley woman is suing a Charleston physician after she claims he is responsible for her husband's death.
On Dec. 17, 2009, Opie Matherly underwent coronary artery bygraft surgery, which was performed by Dr. Sulaiman B. Hasan, according to a complaint filed Jan. 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Margaret M. Matherly claims during the procedure, when the aortic cannula was removed, Hasan reported that there was a localized dissection that bled profusely, but that it was repaired with full thickness horizontal mattress sutures.
At the end of the surgery, Opie Matherly was transferred to the Open Heart Recovery Unit, according to the suit.
Margaret Matherly claims her husband showed signs of extensive compromised profusion and had to undergo a repair surgery hours after the first surgery was performed.
Opie Matherly survived the repair surgery, but by the time he was taken back to the operating room, he had suffered irreparable brain damage and died on Dec. 21, 2009, according to the suit.
Margaret Matherly claims Hasan violated the applicable standard of care by not appropriately repairing the localized dissection that occurred during the initial operation.
Hasan also violated the standard of care by failing to diagnose Opie Matherly's condition, according to the suit.
Margaret Matherly is seeking compensatory damages for the wrongful death of her husband. She is being represented by Susan Curry Brasselle.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-51
Beckley woman sues Charleston physician for husband's death
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