
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 1993                   TAG: 9307140453
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

DEAD PATIENT'S FAMILY SUES HOSPITAL, DOCTOR

The family of a woman who died after emergency room treatment at Williamsburg Community Hospital has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the hospital and a doctor.

Evelyn S. Turner, 32, went to the hospital May 7, 1990, as an outpatient for a pelvic ultrasound.

After the procedure, she became ill, according to the lawsuit filed last month in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.

Turner later passed out and stopped breathing.

Dr. Felipe Rigau placed a tube in her trachea to help her breathe.

A few minutes later, another hospital employee found the end of the tube was in Turner's esophagus, the suit said.

She never regained consciousness and became brain dead.

The suit alleges that the hospital failed to properly train or supervise respiratory therapy personnel.

- Associated Press

by CNB