Virginia Hospital, Technician Served with Wrongful Death Suit

By Daniel Hawn

Published on October 11, 2005

On July 21, Benita D. Newton, 26, went to Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center to be checked for blood clots in her left leg. Her doctor had sent her there after Newton reported discomfort and swelling in her leg.

A hospital technician performed a scan of Newton's leg and filed a report indicating that there was no evidence of a blood clot.

Newton died five days after later.

According to the lawsuit, a medical report indicated that her death resulted from a 12 inch-long blood clot that dislodged from her left leg, traveled to her lungs, and became fatally embedded in an artery.

Maryview and the technician who performed the scan of Newton's leg are being sued for allegedly failing to meet established standards of care in treating Newton. If they had, the lawsuit contends, the blood clot would have been detected and Newton's death would have been prevented.

The lawsuit seeks $1.8 million in damages.

A representative for Maryview said that the hospital was unable to discuss the particulars of Newton's case for legal reasons.

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