Woman says nurse awakened her by forcing tube in nose, down throat

A Jefferson County woman is suing over claims she was injured when she awoke from surgery while a nurse allegedly was forcing a tube up her nose and down her throat.

Miriam Borque and Stephen J. Zayler, Chapter 7 trustee for bankruptcy estate of Wilbert James Borque and Miriam K. Borque, filed a lawsuit Oct. 6 in Jefferson County District Court against Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, also known as Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas-Beaumont, citing medical negligence.

According to the complaint, Miriam Borque underwent a surgical procedure at the defendant hospital on July 26, 2012, when she awoke to find one nurse holding her down and a second nurse attempting to force a tube through her nose and down her throat.

Borque says she screamed in pain but the nurse did not stop attempting to force the tube down her throat until the other nurse told her to stop. The complaint states two more attempts were made after that, and Borque coughed up a blood clot and a great deal of blood.

The lawsuit states Borque sustained permanent damage to her esophagus and vocal cords. The defendant is accused of medical negligence through liability for its employees pursuant to respondeat superior.

The plaintiffs say Wilbert and Miriam Borque have been discharged from bankruptcy but this claim was previously listed as an asset in a Chapter 7 petition, and any monetary recovery in this case can be used for the payment of debts.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages, interest and costs of court.

They are represented by attorney Craig Lewis of The Lewis Law Firm in Houston.

Jefferson County District Court case number: A-196193