Couple sue United States for physician's negligence

CHARLESTON - A Wirt County man and his wife are suing the United States of America for negligence in treatment at federally funded facility.

Medical treatment was rendered by Dr. Ronald C. Michels at Family Care beginning June 25, 2008, to William G. Bunner, according to a complaint filed July 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston.

The United States of America, acting by and through Michels, committed wrongful acts and was otherwise negligent in deviating from the applicable standards of care in regard to Bunner's treatment, according to the suit.

Bunner claims the defendant failed to properly and completely document the complaints of a non-healing lesion of the oral mucosa voiced by him to Michels at various times over a period of approximately 2 1/2 years, from November 2008 until June 2011.

Michels failed to properly and completely evaluate Bunner's persistent non-healing lesion of the oral mucosa during the course of his treatment and provision of medical care and failed to appreciate the clinical significance of the fact that Bunner's persistent non-healing lesion did not respond to ongoing conservative treatment with medicated mouthwash during the course of his treatment and provision of medical care, according to the suit.

Bunner claims as a result of the United States' failure, acting by and through Michels, to diagnose and treat the injury in a timely manner, Bunner's condition was permitted to deteriorate to a life-threatening level, which required multiple hospitalizations.

As a result of the failure by the defendant, by and through Michels, to diagnose and treat the injury in a timely manner, Bunner has suffered permanent severe scarring and disfigurement, which he would not have experienced but for the negligence of the defendant, according to the suit.

Bunner  and his wife, Charlotte Bunner, claim he continues to receive medical treatment for his condition caused by the defendant's negligence.

The Bunners are seeking compensatory damages. They are being represented by Robert P. Welsh of the Masters Law Firm LC.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston case number: 6:13-cv-20655