Sheila Matthews’ medical malpractice lawsuit alleges she suffered from progressive neurological deterioration after she was admitted to NCH North Naples Hospital, FL, on March 29, 2005. Six days later, she was transported to NCH Downtown Naples Hospital for a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two days later, another MRI found a large epidural abscess on her spine. A neurological consult was immediately requested and decompressive surgery was performed to remove it. But it was too late: Matthews had suffered severe, permanent neurological dysfunction.
Among the lawsuit’s allegations are that the defendants were negligent for failing to perform proper nursing assessments; not notifying doctors of significant changes in her condition; failing to perform timely MRIs; not documenting nursing assessments; not admitting her into the intensive care unit for close monitoring; and failing to identify and recognize Matthews’ progressive neurological condition. The lawsuit alleges defendants didn’t follow Vickers’ orders to perform cervical and thoracic MRIs. If the lumbar MRI was interpreted as normal, Vickers wanted the other MRIs to rule out a bacterial abscess. Jurors have heard videotaped depositions, including internist Sunil Pandya’s, and testimony from medical experts who have been cross-examined by each doctor’s defense attorney.
Excerpted from Naplesnews.com.
