CHARLESTON – A Dunbar man is suing a Charleston physician he claims is responsible for his wife's death.
On May 14, 2012, Wanda Christina Jones was referred to Dr. Mahendrakumar M. Patel for evaluation of an abnormal chest x-ray and left-sided back pain, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Lonnie Jones claims Patel arranged blood work and suggested Wanda Jones was at an increased risk for infection because she was on immunosuppression and also a possible MRI for her back pain.
Patel stated in his records that if there was no conclusive results on the blood tests, he would scheduled Wanda Jones for a bronchoscopy and lavage of the left upper lobe of her lung and his diagnosis was left upper lobe lung abscess, according to the suit.
Lonnie Jones claims at no time did Patel mention doing a biopsy of the lesion in Wanda Jones' left lung.
On May 22, 2012 Patel next saw Wanda Jones and scheduled her for a bone scan and a bronchoscopy, but again failed to mention, perform or refer Wanda Jones for a biopsy of the lesion in her lung, according to the suit.
Lonnie Jones claims on Feb. 5, 2013, Wanda Jones saw Patel for a severe cough and he suggested that she have a repeat chest CT and complete pulmonary function study.
The mass in Wanda Jones' lung had increased from 2cm to 3 cm in nine months and she was told to follow up in two weeks to see if she needed a drainage procedure or thoracoscopic excision of her left upper lobe mass, according to the suit.
Lonnie Jones claims Wanda Jones was admitted to Charleston Area Medical Center from Feb. 7, 2013, until Feb. 14, 2013, where she received testing that she was likely suffering from lung cancer and she was transferred to Cleveland Clinic for further evaluation.
On March 7, 2013, while at Cleveland Clinic, Wanda Jones was diagnosed as having adenocarcinoma of the left lung and she died on April 11, 2013, according to the suit.
Lonnie Jones claims Patel negligently failed to biopsy his wife's lung lesion and/or otherwise evaluate her for cancer.
The defendant's negligence caused Wanda Jones' death, according to the suit.
Lonnie Jones is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Matthew C. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-985
