Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont and two local neurosurgeons have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of a Vidor woman who claim the staff failed to respond when the woman suffered a heart attack.
The suit on behalf of Lynette Paderas was filed March 3 in Jefferson County against St. Elizabeth, Erwin Lo, M.D., Mark Kubala, M.D., and Golden Triangle Neurocare LLP.
According to the suit, Paderas underwent cervical spinal surgery under the care of Lo and Kubala on April 10, 2006. Following the surgery, Paderas had continued symptoms of pain and weakness in her neck, shoulders, arms and chest and was admitted to St. Elizabeth on May 1.
Plaintiffs say the evidence will show that during hospitalization Paderas suffered from and presented symptoms of a heart attack.
Evidence will include an EKG on Paderas ordered by Dr. Lo on May 2.
The complaint states that Lo, Kubala and nurses and employees of St. Elizabeth failed to take any steps to treat Paderas for a heart attack. She died on May 4, 2006.
The original petition says that the defendants were aware that Paderas was at risk of a heart attack, yet failed to include acute infarct during diagnosis, failed to obtain a timely cardiology consultation and failed to disclose to the patient’s family that Paderas was suffering from a heart attack.
The plaintiffs, Paderas’ husband, David Paderas, and children Melissa Ratliff, Chad Reed and Jarrod Reed, are seeking to recover damages for medical expenses, the mental anguish and physical pain of Paderas prior to her death, funeral and burial expenses and lost wages.
In addition, they are asking for pecuniary loss, mental anguish and loss of inheritance.
Plaintiffs are represented by David Dies, Sandee Hart and Steve Parkhurst of Orange.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd of the Jefferson County 172nd District Court.
Wrongful death suit says docs ignored heart attack
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