PINEVILLE – A Logan County man says medical staff failed to recognize he suffered a stroke during a hospital stay.
Ronald J. Vance and his wife Marlene Vance filed their complaint May 16 in Wyoming Circuit Court against Logan General Hospital LLC doing business as Logan Regional Medical Center, Dr. Lonnie Lee Berry, Dr. Kathy Diann Harvey, C-FNP Tami Blankenship and Dr. Anthony Toparis.
“The care Mr. Vance received from these medical providers was horrendous,” attorney L. Dante diTrapano told The West Virginia Record. “We look forwarding to bringing justice to this family.”
diTrapano
| Courtesy photo
On February 19, 2023, EMS was dispatched to Vance’s home in response after he reported nausea and vomiting, and he was taken to Logan Regional Medical Center. He was seen by Berry and Harvey, and no focal deficits were reported upon arrival. He had a CT of his head without contrast for dizziness, and he was admitted to LRMC under the care of Blankenship and Toparis.
During his admission, he developed difficulty ambulating, but the complaint says this isn’t noted in his medical records. He was discharged two days later with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus euglycemic ketoacidosis without coma.
The next day, Vance saw his primary care physician Dr. James Walker at Coalfield Health Center. He said he was “still experiencing slurred speech, numbness on left side of body extending from head to feet.” His wife said he “is not showing any improvements” since being discharged, and Walker ordered an MRI.
The MRI, done the next day at LRMC, showed Vance had suffered an Acute Right Cerebellar Infarct, which resulted in permanent neurological and related injuries.
The complaint says Vance likely suffered a stroke during his admission to LRMC from February 19 to 21, 2023.
The plaintiffs say LRMC and the other defendants deviated from reasonable and accepted standards of medical care by failing to adequately conduct a proper neurological exam, failing to include a stroke in the differential diagnosis, failing to order a neurology consult, failing to order a brain MRI, failing to adequately anti-coagulate and being otherwise negligent.
They accuse LRMC of medical negligence and vicarious liability, and they accuse the individual defendants of professional negligence.
They seek compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future loss of earnings, annoyance, embarrassment, humiliation, inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of life. They also seek punitive damages, general damages, special damages, pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs and attorney fees.
The plaintiffs are being represented by L. Dante diTrapano and David H. Carriger of Calwell Luce diTrapano in Charleston and by Dr. Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates in Charleston.
Wyoming Circuit Court case number 25-C-46