MORGANTOWN – A Marion, Penn., couple is suing West Virginia University Board of Governors after they claim it is responsible for injuries caused from a medical procedure.
On April 15, 2013, Dr. Preiya Jain, under the supervision of Dr. Sophia Josefina Ommani, performed a bilateral tubal occlusion on Lisa Sullenberger, utilizing as Esure coil at West Virginia University Hospital, according to a complaint filed Oct. 5 in Monongalia Circuit Court.
Sullenberger claims after she was prepped, Jain advanced the Essure device into the hysteroscope until the left ostium was visualized and then advanced the Essure device into the ostio and deployed it.
Jain noted that she believed the device to be faulty because the coils were not visualized upon removal of the catheter and she then deployed a second Essure device into the left ostia, which was able to be visualized, according to the suit.
The procedure was repeated on the right side with a single coil without issue.
Sullenberger claims following the procedure, she began having significant pain in her lower back, which caused nausea and vomiting and she sought various medical treatments to determine the cause of the pain.
Eventually, Sullenberger presented to a chiropractor who had x-rays taken of her back on June 10, 2014, and the x-rays revealed the presence of an Essure coil lodged in Sullenberger’s abdominal cavity, according to the suit.
Sullenberger claims she had to undergo surgery to have to Essure coil removed, as well as a hysterectomy on Sept. 19, 2014.
The defendant and its physicians failed to recognize the risk that the fallopian tube may have been perforated when the first Essure coil was deployed, failing to stop the procedure to investigate the location of the coil by means of an ultrasound or x-ray and by failing to reove the misplaced coil once its whereabouts were determined.
Sullenberger claims her husband, Michael N. Sullenberger sustained a loss of comfort, society, companionship and consortium.
The Sullenbergers are seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Kelly R. Reed and Tamara Blackmer Williamson of the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed PLLC; and John Angotti of Angotti & Straface LC.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 16-C-511