BECKLEY — A woman is suing two physicians claiming they implanted her with a pacemaker that was not medically necessary.
Frances Huffman filed a complaint in Raleigh Circuit Court against Albert Oliver, Abdrhman Hamo and Heart & Vascular Medical Center PLLC alleging medical professional negligence.
Huffman went to the Raleigh General Hospital's emergency room on July 16, 2018, due to having chest pains. According to her suit, she was admitted to Raleigh General and was under the care of Hamo and Oliver from July 16 through July 18, 2018. Huffman was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and underwent surgery peformed by Oliver to implant a pacemaker.
She alleges that on Aug. 3, 2018, Oliver ignored her concerns about pain and discharge at her surgical site which turned out to be an infection. She was hospitalized in September 2018, for sepsis and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus and alleges she was told by Ruby Memorial Hospital physicians her implant needed to be removed and that a pacemaker "was not indicated." Huffman claims she underwent antibiotic treatment from Sept. 19, 2018, through Nov. 17, 2018 after having the pacemaker removed.
Huffman seeks monetary relief, trial by jury, interest and all other proper relief. She is represented by Weldon Burnette of Mark Burnette PA in Ocala, Florida and attorney Jeffrey Rodgers in Lewisburg.
This case has been assigned to Circuit Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick.
Raleigh Circuit Court case number 20-C-84-K