The wife and daughter of a deceased man blame doctors at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth and Southeast Texas Medical Associates for his death.
Patricia Gordy and Tammy Edelmon filed a lawsuit Jan. 26 in Jefferson County District Court against Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, Southeast Texas Medical Associates and Dr. Vincent P. Murphy.
Gordy and Edelmon claim Dr. Murphy admitted Kirk Gordy to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont on Nov. 13, 2007, after diagnosing him with pneumonia. At the time, Kirk Gordy also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the complaint.
"The evidence will likely show that during the hospitalization at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, on and about Nov. 21, 2007, Kirk Gordy sustained a serious fall while returning from the restroom," the suit states. "As a result of the fall, Kirk Gordy sustained a fracture of his left tibia and fibula which required surgery."
On Nov. 28, 2007, Kirk Gordy died, the complaint says.
The plaintiffs blame employees at the hospital for causing Kirk Gordy's fall, saying they failed to assess and supervise him and failed to implement proper procedures for fall prevention.
They say Kirk Gordy died because of contraindicated medications administered to him by doctors at the hospital.
The plaintiffs name Southeast Texas Medical Associates as a defendant in the complaint because Dr. Murphy worked for the company at the time of Kirk Gordy's fall and death, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs seek an unspecified judgment, plus costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief to which they may be entitled.
Sandee L. Hart of Orange will be representing them.
The case has been assigned to Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: A185-789.