HUNTINGTON — An administrator is suing a medical providers, citing alleged negligence and vicarious liability.

Kateland McCreery filed a complaint in Cabell Circuit Court against the defendants alleging that they deviated from acceptable standards of medical care.

According to the complaint, McCreery alleges that on Aug. 15, 2016, Teresa Ann Watts was presented to St. Mary’s emergency room and was misdiagnosed with heroin abuse. The misdiagnosis remained in her record and likely caused the negative effects on the medical care she received on subsequent visits, including after a motor vehicle accident on Sept. 6, 2016, when they failed to indicate that she was suffering from pulmonary hypertension and again on Oct. 28, 2016, which revealed yet again a severe pulmonary hypertension that led to her collapsed and death on Oct. 31, 2016, just seven minutes after being discharged despite the significant abnormal vital signs. Thus, the decedent’s family has and will suffer from sorrow, mental anguish, loss of solace, companionship, comfort, guidance, care and assistance because of her death. 

The plaintiff holds Dr. Tarun Popli, St. Mary’s Hospitalist Services LLC, et al. responsible because they allegedly denied Watts adequate treatment, failed to re-intubate after her endotracheal tube had become dislodged during the ambulance ride and denied her the opportunity to be resuscitated.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendants for general and special damages, punitive damages, interest, attorney’s fees, costs and other relief that the court may deem just. She is represented by David H. Carriger and L. Dante diTrapano of The Calwell Practice LC in Charleston.

Cabell County Circuit Court Case number 18-C-638