Suit claims Jackson woman died from mistreatment at nursing home, hospital

RIPLEY – A Jackson County man alleges a Ravenswood nursing home and a Wood County hospital are responsible for his wife's death.

The Ravenswood Center and Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital in Parkersburg are named as co-defendants in a wrongful death suit filed by Richard Corder in Jackson Circuit Court. In his complaint filed Feb. 8, Corder, 85, of Cottageville, alleges his wife, Naomi, died due to a combination of contracting several infections at the Ravenswood Center, and internal bleeding from an unsecure feeding tube while at Camden-Clark.

Earlier this month, C-CMH merged with St. Joseph's Hospital to become Camden-Clark Medical Center. It is affiliated with West Virginia United Health Systems in Morgantown.

According to the suit, Naomi became a resident of the Ravenswood Center on Jan. 13, 2006. On unspecified dates, "she developed aspiration pneumonia, infection of the gastrostomy feeding tube, and urinary tract infections."

On Dec. 14, 2008, Corder was transferred to Camden-Clark for replacement of her gastrostomy tube. After being admitted into the emergency room, the replacement was conducted by Dr. Michael Roberts who released her later that day.

However, two days later she as again admitted to Camden-Clark "due to the gastrostomy feeding tube not functioning and possible gastrointestinal bleed." During the second admission, Corder was treated by Dr. J. Kevin Koch.

Following her second admission, the suit alleges Corder was "suffering from a urinary tract infection, sepsis and upper gastrointestinal bleed." Though efforts were made to treat her, she did not respond to them, and died on Dec. 19, 2008.

According to her death certificate, Corder, 81, died as a result of severe sepsis due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Dementia and coronary artery disease were listed as contributing factors.

Dr. Christina M. Lecarus-Trinidad determined Corder's death was a result of natural causes.

Richard was appointed as the estate's personal representative on Sept. 23, 2010.

In his suit, Richard alleges Naomi's death was due to The Ravenswood Center not properly monitoring her condition, and staff at Camden-Clark, including Roberts and Koch, not ensuring her tube was secured. As a result, Richard alleges not only did Naomi incur "pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, physical impairment, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, aggravation of existing diseases and physical defects and ultimately death," but he also sustained "mental pain and suffering and loss of companionship ... as a result of her death."

Roberts and Koch are named as co-defendants in the suit.

Corder seeks unspecified damages, attorney fees and court costs. He is represented by Jeff D. Stewart with the Bell Law Firm in Charleston.

The case is assigned to Judge Thomas C. Evans III

Jackson Circuit Court case number 11-C-16