BECKLEY – Fifteen more lawsuits have been filed against Raleigh Heart Clinic after patients tested positive for blood-borne pathogens.
The 15 lawsuits were filed on March 9 and March 13 in Raleigh Circuit Court by plaintiffs only identified by their initials.
The plaintiffs all had cardiac stress tests performed at Raleigh Heart Clinic by Dr. Thair Barghouthi.
The plaintiffs claim they subsequently tested positive for Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C after undergoing the medical procedures at the clinic.
Because of the viruses they contracted, the plaintiffs will have to continue medical treatment, according to the suits.
The plaintiffs claim they were notified via letter from the West Virginia Division of Health and Human Resources in 2016 that they were possibly exposed to blood-borne pathogens during a cardiac stress tests and should immediately have their blood tested.
The letter informed the plaintiffs that the blood-borne pathogens may be asymptomatic for years, thus requiring them to follow-up and continue blood testing, according to the suits.
The defendants breached their duty by engaging in conduct that exposed them to the increased risk of contracting blood-borne pathogens.
The defendants were negligent, and knew or should have known of the dangers the plaintiffs were exposed to, according to the suits.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are represented by Russell O. Wooton of Wooton & Wooton; and Eric B. Snyder, P. Gregory Haddad and Rebecca D. Pomeroy of Bailey & Glasser.
The Law Office of Steven P. New has filed approximately 100 lawsuits regarding the clinic — those have been removed to federal court.
Raleigh Circuit Court case numbers: 18-C-131, 18-C-132, 18-C-133, 18-C-134, 18-C-135, 18-C-136, 18-C-137, 18-C-138, 18-C-139, 18-C-140, 18-C-141, 18-C-142, 18-C-143, 18-C-151, 18-C-152