A medical negligence lawsuit has been filed against a prominent healthcare facility, accusing it of failing to provide adequate care that resulted in severe injuries to a patient. On October 4, 2024, Retha Warthen, acting as Power of Attorney for Randall Warthen, lodged the complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, targeting St. Mary’s Medical Center, Inc.
The case revolves around allegations that St. Mary’s Medical Center neglected its duty of care towards Randall Warthen during his hospitalization following a traumatic motor vehicle accident on June 17, 2022. According to the complaint, Warthen was admitted as a trauma alert and initially showed no signs of pressure injuries upon evaluation by the trauma team. However, due to purported nursing negligence, he developed multiple skin lesions and pressure injuries over time. The plaintiff asserts that these injuries were preventable and resulted from inadequate care provided by the hospital staff.
The lawsuit details how Warthen's condition deteriorated while under the care of St. Mary’s Medical Center. By June 27, 2022, he had developed Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD) on his coccyx and an intergluteal skin lesion by July 13, 2022. The situation worsened with new stage III pressure injuries identified upon his transfer out of intensive care on July 24/25, 2022. After being discharged to Kindred Hospital on July 28, further assessments revealed significant stage III pressure injuries across various body parts within just one day.
The complaint emphasizes that Kindred Hospital managed to improve Warthen's condition significantly before he was readmitted to St. Mary’s Medical Center on September 14 for respiratory failure and sepsis treatment. However, during this second hospitalization period until October 12, additional negligence allegedly led to further skin damage due to inadequate offloading and poor nursing interventions.
Retha Warthen argues that St. Mary’s Medical Center failed to meet the prevailing professional standard of care expected from similar healthcare providers. The plaintiff accuses the hospital of breaching its duty by not exercising reasonable care or providing consistent monitoring and intervention necessary for preventing such injuries.
As compensation for these alleged failures resulting in permanent bodily harm and emotional distress suffered by Randall Warthen—alongside ongoing medical expenses—the plaintiff seeks damages exceeding $50,000 plus costs and interest from St Mary's Medical Center through trial proceedings with jury involvement.
Representing Retha Warthen is attorney Scott M Fischer from Gordon & Partners P.A. The Case ID is: 502024CA009500XXXAMB Div: AG.