Texas Hospital Blamed for Patient’s Severe Bed Sore

By Nursing Home Law Center

Texas Hospital Blame

A former patient at Beaumont’s Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital has sued two of the hospital’s doctors, claiming that they delayed treatment and caused unnecessary complications, including a stage 3 bed sore.

According to the Southeast Texas Record, Ronald Lee Phillips, Sr. was admitted to Memorial Hermann on Oct. 29, 2006, for two consecutive seizures. The Record reports that his doctors, Dr. Darella Cooper and Dr. Jeffrey Klem, were informed of his symptoms in the evening, yet delayed seeing Mr. Phillips until the next morning.

“At some point after admission, {Dr. Klem} was informed of Mr. Phillips’ condition, which indicated a potential heart attack”, the suit states. “However, Dr. Klem failed to respond in a timely manner, and delayed seeing {Mr. Phillips} for several hours”.

During the evening, Mr. Phillips suffered a heart attack, which resulted in severe physical and mental injuries, the suit states. Mr. Phillips remained a patient at Hermann Baptist until mid-November 2006. Throughout his stay, Mr. Phillips developed a stage 3 decubitus ulcer, as well as a staph infection, according to court records.

Mr. Phillips is suing Hermann Baptist for physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, physical disfigurement and incurred medical expenses. Mr. Phillips’ wife, Fredericka – also a plantiff in the case – is suing Hermann Baptist for mental anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of services. The Phillips are suing for an undisclosed amount.

Texas law states that plaintiffs may sue for up to $250,000 in medical malpractice cases.

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