RSSWoman's family sues for medical negligence
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A Sunnyside man has accused four Yakima doctors of medical negligence in connection with the death of his wife last year from septic shock after her colon ruptured.
An attorney for Gary Stonemetz filed the lawsuit Thursday in Yakima County Superior Court against Drs. Portia Jones, Deepika Goshike, Mark Bauer and Clark Kwok, all of whom are employed by Central Washington Family Medicine of Yakima.
According to the lawsuit, Margie Stonemetz was admitted to Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center in June 2008 with pain and nausea related to severe constipation that doctors said was caused by medicine she was taking for migraine headaches.
The doctors planned to consult with a gastroenterologist or surgeon if Stonemetz's condition didn't improve, according to chart notes from her admission to Regional. The lawsuit said they didn't request the consultation until the third day of hospitalization, despite Stonemetz's deteriorating condition.
Treatment with enemas and laxatives did not resolve her condition, the lawsuit states, and Stonemetz had only had one bowel movement in nearly a two-week period.
The gastroenterologist didn't examine Stonemetz on the third day of hospitalization or after he was called again on the fourth day, according to the lawsuit. Her condition worsened and Stonemetz, who was 56, was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. on June 7, 2008.
The autopsy lists the cause of death as septic shock due to a ruptured colon. Sepsis is an overwhelming infection caused by virulent bacteria that enter the bloodstream.
The lawsuit alleges that the doctors had a duty to evaluate and treat Stonemetz with an acceptable standard of medical care but breached that standard by failing to recognize the severity of the colonic blockage and failing to have her examined by a gastroenterologist or general surgeon.
Gary Stonemetz, who is represented by Yakima attorney Lou Delorie, seeks unspecified economic and noneconomic damages, court costs and attorney fees.
Delorie said the doctors didn't respond to his overtures to take the case to arbitration and avoid a trial.
The doctors couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. Dr. Mike Maples,
chief executive of Central Washington Family Medicine, said their insurance carrier would recommend that the doctors not comment on the lawsuit.
Maples indicated the doctors' attorneys believe they have grounds to argue that the physicians acted appropriately.
"Things go to trial because they are defensible," he said.
* Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 509-577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com
I recently had to take my two kids into the emergency room since back pain etc.. wasn't resolved by CWFM. When we go there we usually don't get an MD rather a PA, they ask you questions, then its a "Ok, let us know if things changes etc..." Other child was taken to the emergency room after two visits and asked to check for mono, they checked for strep not mono, finally took the child into the emergency room for the diagnosis, the started the treatment process. CWFM used to be a customer service top notch, but lately, don't know why, they've slipped greatly.
Report ViolationI have heard too many stories like this. When I moved over here, I called every family medicine group (CW is one group of doctors) and even "single" doctors that I found in the phone book, and NONE were accepting Medicare patients. The physicians over here are only in medicine for the money. After 2 years, I finally found an ethical and christian doctor. Of course he retired within 2 years, but he sent me to another ethical and christian doctor, who will after 6 years be retiring this next year. So the hunt starts again. It's a crap shoot over here.
Report ViolationI used to be a patient there. I quit because I always got a new doctor and they never knew anything about why I was there or what was going on. I was put on three different medications for different conditions but was never retested when I should have been. Finally I found a doctor who actually cares and talks to me more than 5 minutes. My new doctor has changed my medications because of tests indicating what I needed. I was also taken off medications that I did not need.
Report Violationkat and others, if you want to find doctors who are accepting patients, call the Yakima County Medical Society at 575-5550.
I know Dr. Bauer. He is an exceptionally qualified and caring doctor. He's as good as they come.
Dont get me wrong. The faculty doctors are very good doctors but you never get to see them. The resident doctors are also very good but they I believe they are overworked and not given enough time to really get to know their patients.
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