Cabell Huntington Hospital

HUNTINGTON - A Wayne County woman has filed a suit against a local hospital, claiming her mother received poor care, which ultimately led to her death.

Karen Clay filed a suit April 3 in Cabell Circuit Court against Cabell Huntington Hospital. Clay filed the suit on behalf of her mother, Margie Starr.

According to the suit, Starr was a patient at Cabell Huntington in 206 from June 15 to June 18 and July 12 to Aug. 18. The suit says Starr was placed in a Posey vest restraint, which caused a skin breakdown, due to its negligent use.

The suit says employees of the hospital allegedly failed to have a care plan to prevent the skin breakdown and failed to provide sufficient preventive measures, and Starr developed pressure ulcers.

Clay claims the hospital failed to provide her mother with adequate hygiene and failed to meet the standard of care in managing her catheter, which resulted in infections.

According to the suit, the negligence and abuse Starr suffered at the hospital caused significant destruction of her physical and mental condition, which ultimately led to her death Oct. 1, 2006.

In the two-count suit, Clay seeks punitive damages for her mother's estate.

Attorney Erin L. Winter is representing Clay. The case has been assigned to Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number 08-C-272