CHARLESTON – A Fayette County man and his wife are suing Charleston Area Medical Center after he developed a MRSA infection in the hospital and suffered permanent injuries.
Drs. Mohamad R. Sankari and Jack L. DePriest were also named as defendants in the suit.
On Feb. 12, Andrew Simpson was seen at CAMC for complaints of a bleeding duodenal ulcer, which was cauterized and he was discharged the following day with a swollen, red and inflamed I.V. site, according to a complaint filed Sept. 28 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Simpson claims he developed superficial thrombophlebitis and on Feb. 15, returned to the emergency department at CAMC with acute respiratory failure and was subsequently intubated.
While in ICU, Simpson was found to have MRSA from the right upper extremity cellulitis and developed MRSA bacteremia, MRSA pneumonia and MRSA UTI, according to the suit.
Simpson claims he became severely septic, developed acute hypoxia, respiratory failure requiring intubation and a CT Of his chest showed cavitary septic emboli. He also went into acute renal failure and was treated for ARDS and septic shock.
On Feb. 29, Simpson underwent a tracheostomy and placement of a PEG tube and was placed on a mechanical vent and his MRSA was treated with vancomycin, according to the suit.
Simpson claims he was discharged on March 8, but has continued to need additional care for his permanent and life-threatening injuries.
The defendants failed to properly and adequately evaluate, treat and/or refer Simpson for symptoms of an infected I.V. site, which turned out to be MRSA and, instead discharged him home, which caused him to sustain permanent injuries, according to the suit.
Judy Simpson, Andrew Simpson’s wife, sustained great and irreparable loss in that she suffered a loss of comfort, society, convenience and consortium to and from her husband, according to the suit.
The Simpsons are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Stacy A. Jacques and Dr. Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 16-C-1485
