TAMPA - A widow sued a number of defendants in the medical field after her husband passed away due to alleged medical negligence, according to documents filed on March 31 in the Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
The entire list of defendants includes: Pasco-Pinellas Hillsborough County Health System Inc.; AdventHealth Wesley Chapel; Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel; University Community Hospital Inc.; Advent Health Tampa; Dr. Kevin Boland; Dr. Idaliz Canales-Colon; Tampa Bay Emergency Physicians LLC; Pioneer Medical Group PL; and Dr. Kalpesh Patel.
Decedent Gary Callicoat presented to the Advent Health Tampa Emergency Department on June 25, 2019, for nausea, vomiting and weakness. He was discharged with a diagnosis of high blood sugar and pressure and heat exhaustion, the suit says.
The decedent presented again to the Advent Health Wesley Chapel ER six hours later because his condition had not improved, the suit says. The hospital staff is accused of ignoring or not urgently responding to Callicoat's signs of neurological distress, including slurred speech and gibberish.
While hospitalized, the suit says he suffered a significant stroke that left him conscious but unable to move his body or communicate in any way - a condition known as locked-in syndrome. He was taken off life support after being transported to hospice, the suit says.
The defendants are charged with negligence and vicarious liability for the events that led to Callicoat's death. His widow, Susan, is represented by Morgan and Morgan Tampa PA.