CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County woman says a misdiagnosis resulted in her having a substantial portion of her small bowel and colon removed.
Mary Thomas filed her complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against Dr. Steve T. Cheche and Charleston Area Medical Center Inc.
According to her complaint, Thomas presented at CAMC Memorial’s Emergency Department with significant abdominal pain March 25, 2019. She received a CT scan that showed small bowel wall thickening. And she was discharged the same day without being admitted with a diagnosis of non-infective gastroenteritis and colitis.
Thomas says Cheche and PA-C Philip Bailey failed to consult with a general surgeon before discharging her. She says her condition didn’t improve, and she returned four days later with significant abdominal pain. She was found to be septic with a small bowel obstruction, large segment of necrosis of and superior mesenteric artery occlusion. She required surgery, which included removal of a substantial portion of her small bowel and a portion of her colon.
She accuses Cheche of professional negligence and CAMC of medical negligence for deviating from the standard of care.
Thomas seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, loss of earnings, loss of enjoyment of life, annoyance, embarrassment, humiliation and inconvenience. She also seeks punitive damages, and she asks for any statutory caps on damages be removed. She also seeks pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
CAMC filed a motion to be dismissed from the case and an answer to the complaint denying the claims. Cheche also filed a motion to be dismissed from the case denying the claims.
Thomas is being represented by L. Dante diTrapano and Davi H. Carriger of Calwell Luce diTrapano in Charleston as well as Dr. Richard D. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay II of Tabor Lindsay & Associates in Charleston. CAMC is represented by Melissa Dodd Veltri and Brittany S. Given of Dinsmore & Shohl in Huntington. Cheche is repreented by Robby J. Aliff and Candice M. Harlow of Jackson Kelly’s Charleston office. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 20-C-593
