Woman claims docs sprayed wrong solution into nasal cavity

GALVESTON - Complaining that Drs. Naren N. Venkatesan and Howard Pine negligently sprayed phenol into her nose, Rosie Jackson has filed a lawsuit.

In court papers filed Aug. 12 in Galveston County District Court, Jackson says the physicians mistakenly applied a 90 percent phenol solution in preparation for a flexible fiber optic laryngoscopy.

The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is also named a defendant because its facilities were used during the incident.

The original petition shows the defendants could have used either lidocaine, cocaine or tetracaine instead of phenol to anesthetize the plaintiff's nasal cavity.

"In fact, any reasonably prudent otolaryngologist would know that a 90 percent phenol solution should never be sprayed into a patient's nose due to its toxic nature; the risk of local mucosal injury and systemic absorption and systemic toxicity," the suit says.

"The plaintiff has suffered injuries and damages as a result of the defendants negligently spraying phenol into her nose."

Consequently, Jackson sues for physical pain and mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, physical impairment and medical expenses.

She also seeks a jury trial.

Attorney Glenn M. Douglas of Houston is representing the plaintiff, and Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.

Case No. 11-cv-1318