CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County widow alleges her late husband's physician failed to screen him for lung cancer, which she alleges would have prevented his death.
Florence C. Roach, administratrix of the estate of James C. Roach, filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against Mely Lim, M.D. citing the West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act.
The suit states that James Roach became ill on Oct. 10, 2016. The following day, he saw the defendant for treatment and the defendant recommended he go to Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division. The suit states testing at the hospital revealed James Roach had developed lung cancer and that it had metastasized through his body.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to properly observe, treat, screen or test the cancer given the decedent's history of smoking. The suit states James Roach died Jan. 29, 2017.
The plaintiff is seeking all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates in Charleston.
The case has been assigned to Judge Tera Salango.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 19-C-421