Former patient says physician was negligent

CHARLESTON – A woman is suing a physician she claims was negligent in follow-up care after treating her for varicose veins.

On Aug. 18, 2010, Melanie Miller sought treatment from Dr. David W. Ranson for complaints of swelling in her ankle, according to a complaint filed Jan. 30 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Miller claims Ranson told her she had varicose veins in both legs and scheduled her for an endovenous radiofrequency ablation for the Great Saphenous vein in her left leg on Oct. 18, 2010.

Following the procedure, Miller developed swelling and redness in her leg with increased severity, but the defendant failed provide proper and timely follow-up care, according to the suit.

Miller claims she made multiple calls to Ranson’s office, but was told she had nothing to worry about.

When Miller began experiencing severe pain and increased swelling, she sought treatment at Medpointe in Bridgeport and St. Francis Emergency Room in Charleston on multiple occasions, she says. Each time, Ranson was contacted and told the attending physicians to send her home, according to the suit.

Miller claims on Nov. 10, 2010, she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her leg and possibly her lung and was hospitalized and started on Lovenox and Coumadin.

Ranson’s lack of proper and timely follow-up care and treatment of Miller’s symptoms have led to permanent and irreversible injury, according to the suit.

Miller claims Ranson acted negligently, carelessly, willfully and wantonly and/or with reckless disregard of risk of harm.

As a result, Miller sustained bodily injuries both temporary and permanent; suffered physical pain and mental anguish; sustained disfigurement and deformities; incurred expenses for doctors, institutional care, hospital care, nursing care, medicine, equipment and related items of service; suffered a lessening or diminution of her earning capacity; sustained humiliation and embarrassment; and suffered an impairment of her capacity to enjoy life, according to the suit.

Miller is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Richard D. Lindsay and Matthew C. Lindsay.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-207