MORGANTOWN - A woman is suing the West Virginia University Board of Governors after she claims they are responsible for her husband's death.
On May 19, 2012, Wilbur Dale Severe Jr. was a patient at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown and a CT trauma, chest, abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast was ordered, according to a complaint filed in Monongalia Circuit Court.
Carol E. Severe claims the test revealed retroperitoneal periaortic and right iliac lymphadenopathy, including a large nodal mass along the right iliac chain, however, neither of the physicians who read the CT scan informed the Severes of the findings.
Wilbur Severe was discharged on June 19, 2012, and in February 2014, he experienced abdominal pain for several weeks with vomiting and nausea and sought treatment at another medical facility, where other imaging studies were promptly performed, according to the suit.
Carol Severe claims the imaging studies showed lymphoma and lymphomatous involvement of the spleen and bone marrow, and he was treated with an aggressive course of chemotherapy at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Va.
When he first began treatment, Wilbur Severe's cancer was determined to be Stage III, and he died on Feb. 28, while undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to the suit.
Carol Severe claims WVUBOG was aware of the mass and tumor in 2012 and owed her husband a duty to inform him of the findings and failed to do so.
The defendants actions caused Wilbur Severe to suffer pain and suffering; annoyance and inconvenience; mental anguish; and medical, therapeutic, pharmaceutical, home nursing and other services and expenditures, according to the suit.
Carol Severe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Jacques R. Williams and Andrew G. Meek of Hamstead, Williams & Shook PLLC.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 15-C-411