HOUSTON — Clear Lake Regional Medical Center is being accused of failing to prevent and treat a patient who allegedly developed multiple pressure wounds while on a ventilator.
Willie Welch filed a complaint Dec. 1 in Harris County District Court against Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, CHCA Clear Lake L.P., and Clear Lake Regional Medical Center Inc., alleging medical negligence.
According to his complaint, Welch, who was 69 years old at the time, was admitted to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center on Dec. 15, 2018, for septic shock, atrial fibrillation and pneumonia. He suffered acute respiratory distress and was intubated and placed on a ventilator on Dec. 16, 2018, according to his suit.
He alleges that he was restrained at the time and was "identified to be at skin integrity impairment risk."
Welch claims that on Dec. 24, he suffered from a "left buttock Stage 1 pressure injury," on Dec. 30, suffered a "left buttock deep tissue injury" and on Jan. 5, 2019, had to be treated for another pressure injury on his sacrum.
Welch further alleges that on Jan. 23, 2019, at the time of his discharge from the hospital, he suffered a "Stage IV sacral ulcer" that required months of wound care. He claims the defendants failed to "implement interventions" to avoid his pressure wounds and were negligent in his wound treatment.
Welch seeks monetary relief between $200,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Melanie Medina of Brown Christie & Green in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2020-76821