Boone Co. man sues Wharton Medical Center for daughter's death

CHARLESTON -- A Boone County man is suing Wharton Medical Center for his daughter's death.

Dr. Ira Alan Morris was also named as a defendant in the suit.

On March 24, 2011, Delondia Watson presented to the defendants' office for complaints of a sore throat, according to a complaint filed Jan. 12 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

David Nichols claims Morris saw Watson and only gave her viscous xylocaine for symptomatic treatment.

On March 26, 2011, Watson arrived in the emergency room at Boone Memorial Hospital in shock and with severe metabolic acidosis, according to the suit.

Nichols claims blood cultures were drawn, which later grew out Group A Streptococcus.

Watson was later transferred to Charleston Area Medical Center, where she died that night, according to the suit.

Nichols claims the West Virginia State Medical Examiner confirmed that the cause of Watson's death was Group A Streptococcus sepsis.

The defendants failed to perform a Strep Screen when Watson presented to the Wharton Medical Center and/or failed to institute antibiotic therapy, according to the suit.

Nichols is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Dr. Richard D. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay.

The case has been assiged to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-84