CHARLESTON — A Sissonville woman is suing Thomas Memorial Hospital and a physician alleging they are responsible for her late husband's death.
Dr. Sophia Haleem and Thomas Memorial Hospital were both named defendants in the suit.
Gary A. Workman presented to the defendant's emergency department on April 5, 2022, with a nosebleed that had been persisting for several hours, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Sheila Workman claims Haleem was the doctor on duty when Gary Workman presented to the emergency department.
During her examination, she noted swelling and congestion in Gary Workman's nasal passages and ordered 10 milligrams of Decadron and 25 milligrams of Benadryl, according to the suit.
"In an attempt to control the nosebleed...Haleem...placed or ordered to be placed, a 5.5-centimeter Rhino Rocket in the Decedent's left nostril first and then placed, or ordered to be placed, a 5.5-centimeter Rhino Rocket in the Decedent's right nostril," the complaint states.
Sheila Workman claims Haleem also ordered 4 milligrams of Zofran and an hour later, she noted blood was running down the back of Gary Workman's throat and he was anxious. She ordered Ativan to be pushed through his IV line.
After the Ativan was administered, Gary Workman began showing signs of respiratory distress and/or a compromised airway and Haleem determined he needed to be intubated, according to the suit.
Sheila Workman claims Haleem then ordered 10 milligrams of Etomidate in preparation for intubation, however, shortly after administration, Gary Workman became bradycardic and epinephrine was administered.
Haleem and/or staff members attempted to intubate Gary Workman and failed twice before a certified registered nurse anesthetist was able to intubate him approximately six minutes after he first became bradycardic, according to the suit.
"Subsequent to his intubation, the Plaintiff, Sheila Workman, was only informed by the Defendants that the Decedent had required intubation and was never informed how long the Decedent was deprived of oxygen or what had occurred in regard to his treatment," the complaint states.
Sheila Workman claims her husband never regained consciousness and was transferred to two other hospitals before being moved to hospice care, where he died on May 4, 2022.
Sheila Workman claims the defendants negligently failed to properly manage Gary Workman's nosebleed and because of their negligence, her husband was injured and died.
Sheila Workman is seeing compensatory damages. She is represented by Michael G. Simon and Kevin M. Pearl of Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon, DeCapio & Pearl in Weirton.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Tera Salango.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 23-C-519
