FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Oklahoma woman is bringing civil charges against Arkansas' Washington Regional Medical Center and multiple other defendants for alleged negligence that caused her father's death, according to documents filed in the Circuit Court of Washington County, Ark.
Juana Ary's father, John Chambers, was a patient of Dr. Jeffrey Bell at the Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery Center in Fayetteville, where he was being treated for a parastomal hernia repair, says a complaint filed Feb. 19.
In September 2019, Dr. Bell performed surgery on Chambers at the Washington Regional Medical Center; before being discharged, Chambers' white blood cell count was elevated above normal range, but the patient was discharged anyway, the suit says.
In the suit, the plaintiff alleges that the physician either failed to see or ignored signs of infection in Chambers.
After returning to the surgery center four days later due to pain, nausea, vomiting and decreased urine and ostomy output, Chambers was admitted to the emergency room. After undergoing multiple procedures and several months in intensive care, Chambers was discharged again, but was soon readmitted to hospital and died in April of 2020.
Ary is pressing for damages from one count of medical negligence against Washington Regional Medical Center, Washington Regional Medical System doing business as Washington Regional General Surgery Clinic, and 10 unidentified nurses or other hospital staff, as well as one count of negligent and grossly negligent hiring, training, supervision and management.
The defendants Dr. Jeffrey D. Bell and Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery is also faced with one count of medical negligence, as well as one count of negligent and grossly negligent hiring, training, supervision and management.
Ary is represented by The Potts Law Firm, LLP, of Bentonville and the firm Gill Ragon Owen.