BECKLEY — A Virginia man is alleging a physician's delay in treatment led to the rupture of his appendix, infection and prolonged hospitalization.
Richard Matherly filed a complaint in Raleigh Circuit Court against Med-Surg Physician Group Inc., and Oluyemisi Sangodeyi MD alleging negligence.
Matherly, who lives in Powhatan County, says he went to Appalachian Regional Hospital's emergency department on Sept. 23, 2018 due to suffering from "acute lower abdominal pain." He was admitted to the hospital after a CT scan showed "acute appendicitis" and according to this suit, Matherly was assigned as a patient to Sangodeyi and scheduled for an appendectomy the next morning. He alleges that by almost noon on the morning of his surgery, he had not been prepped for surgery and that Sangodeyi was not at the hospital and transferred him to another surgeon who was not able to see him until later that evening. Matherly claims Sangodeyi failed to alert the new doctor that his condition was urgent or find an "immediately available" surgeon during which time his appendix had ruptured. He alleges due to the delay in his surgery, he suffered an infection, required drains and prolonged hospitalization.
Matherly seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Tony O'Dell and Cheryl Fisher of Tiano O'Dell PLLC in Charleston.
This case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Robert Burnside, Jr. Raleigh Circuit Court case number 20-C-86