Woman sues six physicians, WVU Hospitals for death

MORGANTOWN – A woman is suing six physicians and West Virginia University Hospitals after she claims they are responsible for her family member's death.

The five physicians are Drs. Robert Beto II, Wissam Gharib, Yousef Abdulnabi, David Tingler, Salman Salahuddin Osman and Harvinder Singh Dod.

Joseph Page Adams had a history of coronary artery disease and had previously undergone a three-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery in January 2008 with three grafts, a left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery and vein grafts to the left circumflex and diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery, according to a complaint filed June 2 in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Linda Adams claims in light of an upcoming surgery, Joseph Page Adams was referred to Beto for cardiac assessment because Beto was a specialist in cardiology and cardiovascular angiography at Ruby Memorial Hospital.

After a stress test was performed, which Joseph Page Adams performed "sufficiently well to clear him for surgery," he was not cleared for the surgery, according to the suit.

Linda Adams claims instead, Beto ordered a cardiac catheterization to be performed on Feb. 16, 2009 by Tingler and Abdulnabi and under the direction of Gharib. During the procedure, the physicians observed coronary artery stenosis.

Joseph Page Adams underwent implantation of two drug-eluting stents in the left anterior descending coronary artery through the left internal mammary artery and in administering car and treatment, the physicians elected to administer intravenous Integrilin for 12 hours following the procedure, according to the suit.

Linda Adams claims Joseph Page Adams initially tolerated the catheterization, but when he was transferred to a patient room at Ruby Memorial Hospital he was not carefully and adequately monitored.

On Feb. 17, 2009, Joseph Page Adams developed an intracranial hemorrhage that went unnoticed because he went unattended and at 7:35 a.m. he was found on the floor of his patient room, barely conscious and/or suffering from profound cognitive deficits, according to the suit.

Linda Adams claims he was taken to ICU and diagnosed with massive intracranial bleeding, but despite that, the Heparin he was taking was not discontinued until 10:25 a.m.

The delay aggravated the consequences of the hemorrhage and may be an additional efficient case of Joseph Page Adams' death later that day, according to the suit.

Linda Adams claims the defendants departed from the applicable standards of professional care and were negligent.

The defendants' negligence caused the wrongful death of Joseph Page Adams, according to the suit.

Linda Adams is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Avrum Levicoff.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 11-C-350