A harrowing medical ordeal has led to a lawsuit against a prominent medical center and several of its staff members. On August 20, 2024, Paul McCorkle filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, against Mercy San Juan Medical Center and multiple healthcare professionals alleging professional medical negligence, wrongful death, survival action, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The case centers around the tragic death of Mary McCorkle. According to the complaint, Mary McCorkle was admitted to Mercy San Juan Medical Center on August 29, 2023, with severe symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, hematochezia (blood in stool), abdominal distention, ongoing constipation, and significant weight loss. Despite these alarming symptoms and subsequent diagnostic tests that included an abdominal CT scan, the medical staff allegedly failed to provide appropriate care. The plaintiffs claim that no nasogastric (NG) tube was placed despite Mary's worsening condition.
The situation escalated when Mary’s condition deteriorated significantly; she became unresponsive due to aspiration. After being found without a heartbeat for fifteen minutes on August 30th, emergency measures managed to achieve a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, due to what is described as "medical chaos" and a "power outage," an emergency bedside laparotomy was performed under unsafe conditions. The family members witnessed this traumatic event through an open door in the trauma unit hallway.
The plaintiffs allege that these events culminated in Mary's death on September 1, 2023. They accuse the defendants—Mercy San Juan Medical Center along with individual healthcare providers Ashleigh Caroline MacLean MD., Diana Sepehri-Harvey DO., Carina Hotari PA-C., Syed Haider MD., Navjot Mangat MD., Gloria Jimenez MD., Joelle L. Jakobsen MD., Qurieno Deguchy MD., Jill Alioto NP., Robert McCary NP., Andrea DeFelice NP., Lawrence Bistrong MD., Amardeep Bhatia MD., Palaniappan Manickam MD.—of failing to meet the standard of care expected from competent medical professionals.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief from the court including compensation for medical expenses incurred by Mary before her death as well as general damages for pain and suffering endured by her family members who witnessed her decline and eventual death. They also seek non-economic damages for loss of companionship and support due to Mary's untimely demise.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Craig F. Ashton and Christopher A. Price from Ashton & Price LLP. The case has been assigned Case No. 24tVwWOTBOOS in front of Judge L. Stewart Deouty at the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County.