Wrongful death suit filed against HealthSouth Southern Hills Rehabilitation Hospital

PRINCETON - A widow is suing a rehabilitation hospital after alleged negligence led to the untimely death of her husband.

Sharon Harless, as the personal representative of the Estate of Bobby Harless, filed a lawsuit April 15 against West Virginia Rehabilitation Hospital Inc., doing business as HealthSouth Southern Hills Rehabilitation Hospital, and HealthSouth Corp. in the Circuit Court of Mercer County, citing negligence and wrongful death.

Harless says that from April 15, 2011, through April 29, 2011, her husband Bobby Harless was a patient at HealthSouth Southern Hills Rehabilitation Hospital.

She alleges that during Harless' stay at HealthSouth he suffered from dehydration and malnutrition as a result of HealthSouth's failure to provide him with assistance with his meal and fluid intake.

The complaint further alleges that HealthSouth failed to provide Harless with proper personal hygiene, resulting in his suffering from a urinary tract infection.

Harless also suffered a penile ulcer with infection due to HealthSouth's alleged failure to appropriately monitor for skin breakdown and failure to provide catheter care, according to the complaint.

Harless also alleges that HealthSouth failed to notify physicians of significant changes in Harless' refusals to eat or drink, low blood pressure and episodes of vomiting and diarrhea, which resulted in a delay in treatment resulting in sepsis. The complaint alleges that the negligence by HealthSouth was the cause of Bobby Harless' death on June 10, 2011.

Harless' estate is seeking maximum damages allowable under statute, attorneys fees and punitive damages.

Harless is being represented by attorneys Andrew Paternostro, Sprague Hazard, Jeff Stewart of The Bell Law Firm PLLC, Charleston.

Circuit Court of Mercer County Case No. 13-C-139.