BEAUMONT – A Harris County man is suing two doctors, alleging they mistreated his bout with pneumonia.
Roger Wofford filed a lawsuit Feb. 5 in Jefferson County District Court against Dr. Qamar Arfeen, and Dr. Juan Iribarren, alleging misdiagnosis and mistreatment of his pneumonia.
On Nov. 29 2013, according the lawsuit, Wofford was diagnosed with acute pneumonia, and Arfreen decided to do a pulmonary workup, diagnosing the plaintiff with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was then treated for COPD over the next four days, the suit says, and released to go home with a prescription of oxygen.
According to the complaint, by Dec. 6, 2013, Wofford’s pneumonia began to progress, with him losing weight and spitting up green sputum. The suit says he was then placed under the care of Iribarren, and Iribarren and Arfreen treated him for COPD and pancreatitis, releasing him Dec. 13, 2013.
Following his second discharge, the plaintiff alleges he went to another hospital, where a final diagnosed revealed necrotizing pneumonia, a severe complication of untreated pneumonia--a rare bacterial pneumonia, that has been studied to have a mortality rate of close to 60 percent.
Wofford seeks a jury trial, a judgment for a sum within the jurisdictional limits of the court, as well as pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as provided law. He is represented by attorneys Collin D. Cobb of Harris, Duesler and Hatfield LLP, and Barry C. Bennett of Bennett Legal PC, both in Beaumont
Jefferson County District Court Case number E-198090