Woman blames Cabell Huntington Hospital for injuries

HUNTINGTON -- A woman is suing Cabell Huntington Hospital after she was injured when hospital staff dropped her.

On July 6, 2009, Janice M. Thacker, who is paralyzed from the waist down and has been confined to a wheelchair for most of her adult life, was at Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center for a scheduled appointment with her oncologist, according to a complaint filed July 1 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Thacker claims while waiting in an examination room, two nurses were attempting to life her from her wheelchair and onto the examination table when they dropped her onto the ground.

As a result of being dropped, Thacker's knees were pinned under her body and she suffered an impacted comminuted undisplaced supracondylar fracture of the distal femur, according to the suit.

Thacker claims the nurses failed to exercise the degree of care, skill and learning required or expected of a reasonable, prudent healthcare provider.

The defendant's negligence caused Thacker to suffer injury and incur medical expenses, according to the suit.

Thacker is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by John F. Cyrus and Michael C. Walker.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 11-C-477