ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Two new lawsuits have been filed against doctors with Adena Health System, according to recent filings.
The first lawsuit involves a nine-year-old child. The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Clare Bruggeman and Dr. Kaetha L. Frost, both emergency medicine and surgery doctors at Adena Regional Medical Center, were negligent in their treatment of the child’s knee wound sustained during a bike riding accident. The lawsuit claims that the doctors failed to remove “foreign bodies from the child’s wound” and discharged her from the emergency room without providing adequate treatment. She returned to the hospital with a swollen and infected knee and was transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for further evaluation and treatment, the suit alleges.
According to the lawsuit, the 9-year-old was diagnosed with a polymicrobial wound infection, necrotizing fasciitis, cellulitis, abscess, gangrene, and traumatic compartment syndrome, among other injuries. The lawsuit seeks damages for the plaintiffs, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. The lawsuit also names Adena Health System and Adena Emergency Physicians, LLC as defendants, alleging that they acted through their agents and employees, including the named doctors. The plaintiffs claim that there was a professional medical relationship between themselves and the defendants, with all the attendant rights, duties, and obligations. The lawsuit includes an Affidavit of Merit sworn to by a medical resident who may have been under Dr. Bruggeman’s supervision. The affidavit attests to the medical negligence of the defendants in their treatment of Massie’s knee wound.
A second lawsuit was filed against doctors at Adena Pike in Waverly. According to the court filings, the lawsuit accuses Doctor Keith Harkins, M.D. of negligence for failing to diagnose and treat the plaintiff’s injuries sustained in a car wreck earlier that day. It also alleges that the care and treatment provided by Dr. Harkins fell below acceptable standards of medical care and treatment.
As a result of Dr. Harkins’ alleged negligence, the plaintiff, Jason A. Book, suffered permanent injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, a loss of ability to perform usual activities, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and other damages, the suit reads. The lawsuit also holds Pike Health Services, Inc. and Adena Pike Medical Center vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees and agents, including Dr. Harkins.
The lawsuit further alleges that the plaintiff’s spouse suffered a loss of spousal consortium as a result of the defendant’s negligence. The plaintiffs are demanding judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, for an amount not less than $25,000, as well as interest, costs of the action, reasonable attorney’s fees, and any other relief to which they may be entitled.