ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 1997 TAG: 9703180046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
Robert G. Farmer died as a result of the hospital's negligence, his family says.
After being released from an emergency room, a seriously ill man collapsed behind his steering wheel in the hospital parking lot and was not discovered until the next day, according to a lawsuit against Carilion Radford Community Hospital.
Robert G. Farmer died more than a year later, in May 1996, as a result of the hospital's negligence, his family claims in a $5.3 million lawsuit in Roanoke Circuit Court.
The lawsuit says this:
On April 4, 1995, Farmer went to his doctor with a headache and fever. Because Farmer had suffered a head injury and other complications in the past, his doctor sent him to Radford Community's emergency room.
Later that day, Farmer was released with a diagnosis of "acute fever of 102 degrees; probably urinary infection." The lawsuit claims the physician failed to diagnose bacterial meningitis.
As he got into his pickup truck, Farmer suffered a stroke or seizure. He remained slumped over on the seat for 18 hours.
A hospital official declined to comment Monday.
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB