A woman is suing two related Houston hospitals for negligence and gross negligence after she says she experienced multiple pressure sores and a dramatic drop in weight during her inpatient stays.
Crystal Cartwright filed a complaint Sept. 3 against CHCA Mainland, L.P. doing business as Houston Healthcare Mainland and CHCA Clear Lake, L.P. doing business as HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake. The suit was filed in the 61st District Court of Harris County, Texas.
The complaint says Cartwright suffered injuries from medical negligence that occurred during her medical treatment from October 2021 to January 2022 at HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland and HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake.
According to the complaint, Cartwright went to HCA Mainland on Oct. 21, 2021 with symptoms including confusion and fever. She was diagnosed with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and transferred 10 days later to HCA Clear Lake for continued care, where it was noted that she had a pressure injury. On Nov. 2, 2021, she was transferred back to HCA Mainland with a damaged tissue injury noted by the nurses caring for her.
The complaint says Cartwright was “non-communicative,” “bedridden,” and completely dependent upon staff for her care and basic needs, including assistance with eating, and alleges that care was insufficient.
“Over the course of her admission at HCA Mainland, Ms. Cartwright developed multiple large pressure injuries on her sacrum, upper back, coccyx, and buttock,” the suit says. The complaint also claims Cartwright experienced malnutrition, with her weight dropping 25 kg (more than 55 pounds) over the course of her stay.
On Jan. 26, 2022, Cartwright was discharged from HCA Mainland and presented to Clearlake Methodist, where she was treated for a sacral wound and midline thoracic pressure injury.
The complaint alleges HCA Healthcare Mainland and HCA Healthcare Clear Lake breached the standard of care in Cartwright’s treatment, and that those breaches constitute negligence and gross negligence. Specifically, the complaints says the hospitals failed to prevent extended pressure on the patient’s sacrum, upper back, coccyx and buttock; failed to reposition their patient every two hours as required by the stand of care; and failed to correctly document and communicate changes in her condition to her physician.
The plaintiff is asking the court for actual damages; exemplary or punitive damages; interest; court costs; and any other just relief.
The plaintiff is being represented by Michael E. Pierce and Emiliano Farciert, Jr. of Pierce Skrabanek, PLLC of Houston.