A widow has filed a medical negligence lawsuit following the tragic death of her husband, alleging severe lapses in care by multiple healthcare providers. Angela Rose William, individually and as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Craig F. Devonshire, filed the complaint on June 10, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, against Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and several associated entities and individuals.
The lawsuit stems from events that began on August 29, 2022, when Craig Devonshire was admitted to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital after being transferred from St. Anthony’s Hospital due to symptoms indicating a possible ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. Despite initial assessments confirming hydrocephalus—a condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain—Devonshire's condition continued to deteriorate over several weeks under the care of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and its medical staff.
According to the complaint, Devonshire underwent multiple procedures aimed at addressing his hydrocephalus but continued to suffer from severe symptoms including headaches, blurred vision, lethargy, and eventually cerebrospinal fluid infection. On October 8, 2022, his condition took a critical turn when he was found unresponsive early in the morning. Despite emergency interventions including intubation and a delayed CT scan revealing severe hydrocephalus causing progressive brain injury, Devonshire remained unresponsive and was declared deceased on October 9, 2022.
Angela Rose William alleges that Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and its associated entities failed to provide timely and adequate medical care for her husband despite clear signs of his worsening condition. The lawsuit accuses OHI West Inc., Orlando Health Inc., Dr. Kirk Wayne Jobe, Neurosurgical Associates of Tampa Bay Inc., among others, of breaching their duty to meet prevailing professional standards of care.
"Despite repeated indications that Mr. Devonshire's neurological condition was rapidly deteriorating," states the complaint, "the defendants failed to secure timely treatment or adequately follow up on critical diagnostic tests." The plaintiff further claims that these failures amount to negligence resulting in wrongful death under Florida Statutes §§766.106 and 768.16 et seq.
The suit seeks damages exceeding $50,001 for mental pain and suffering endured by Angela Rose William and their child Julie Devonshire due to Craig's death. It also demands compensation for medical expenses incurred prior to his death as well as funeral costs.
Representing Angela Rose William is Harold L. Sebring from Sebring Law based in Tampa, Florida. The case is being overseen by Judge Sherwood Coleman under Case Number: 24-002569-CI.