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CHC sued for negligence
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Posted on Aug 24 2000
A resident of Rota has filed a civil suit against the Commonwealth Health Center, accusing its physicians and employees of negligence that resulted in the death of her husband two years ago.
According to a complaint filed by Jacoba Flawau King through lawyer William M. Fitzgerald, CHC physicians and employees in Rota failed to recognize the seriousness of the condition of her late husband Jose T. King and the need for immediate transfer to Saipan.
Mr. King died on Aug. 23, 1998 when he fell and struck his head on a concrete floor. He was found unconscious without any pulse. He was then resuscitated and immediately taken to Rota Health Center-CHC, where he was examined by physicians and employees. At that time, Mr. King was diagnosed to have been suffering from head trauma.
Physicians and employees attending to Mr. King were informed that the patient was taking coumadin, a blood thinner, which necessitated his immediate transfer to CHC in Saipan for admission to intensive care unit in anticipation of possible surgery.
“The attending CHC physicians and employees were aware or should have been aware of this, but failed to immediately transfer the patient and simply kept him in Rota later that day,” the complaint said.
Mr. King’s condition worsened in Rota Health Center and was finally transferred to Saipan but died later that same day.
Due to the alleged negligence of CHC physicians and employees, the family of Mr. King suffered emotional and financial loss brought about by his untimely death.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan has issued an order recognizing Mrs. King as the representative of her late husband in pursuing the case against CHC. Ms. King asked the court to order payment of unspecified damages and attorney’s fees.
