Man Files Suit Against Hospital And Doctor For Wife's Death

A man has filed suit against Charleston Area Medical Center and one of its physicians for the wrongful death of his wife.

According to a suit filed on November 29 by Steven M. Campbell, his wife, Linda L. Campbell, presented to CAMC Urgent Care Center on January 3, 2009 complaining of severe and chronic chest pain and arm pain.

The suit says Dr. Daniel Lee Smith, an employee of the hospital, sent Campbell home after diagnosing her with bronchitis and arm pain. Her husband claims Smith failed to perform any tests, failed to document the reason tests were not performed, and failed to refer her to the hospital in order to have the “potentially life-threatening diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome ruled out.”

The suit said that Campbell was sitting on the couch with her husband when she suffered cardiac arrest. Her husband said he performed CPR until an ambulance could arrive to transport her to the hospital, where she remained until she died the next day of a myocardial infarction.

The suit alleges that the defendants failed in their duty to skillfully, prudently, and thoroughly diagnose, care, treat, advise, and observe Campbell.