Hawaii Hospital Served With $10 Million Malpractice Suit

By Daniel Hawn

Published on August 15, 2005

Florencia Lewis filed the claim in the District Court of Guam during this past weekend.

According to the lawsuit, Lewis went to the Army hospital in August 2002 in order to be treated for hypertension.

It was determined that Lewis suffered from right-sided renal artery stenosis, a condition that, in advanced stages, can inhibit kidney function. She returned to the hospital two days later to have a right renal artery angiogram.

In the lawsuit, Lewis' attorney, Wayson W.S. Wong, alleges that doctors experienced complications in carrying out the test, however, and decided to perform a left brachial artery access for selective stent placement and angioplasty of her right renal artery.

Wong claims that the complications caused irreparable damage to nerves in Lewis' left arm, resulting in severe discomfort.

According to the lawsuit, members of the hospital staff did not acquire Lewis' informed consent for the treatment that led to her injuries.

Wong said that this constitutes medical malpractice and is the grounds upon which the hospital is responsible for Lewis' injuries.

He is seeking damages for the pain, suffering, and physical incapacitation Lewis has suffered as a result of the hospital staff's alleged negligence.

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