Lawsuit in Augusta County claims signs of stroke were missed by emergency room physician
STAUNTON — An emergency room physician at Augusta Health who saw a patient in 2020 is one of three defendants in a $2.4 million medical malpractice lawsuit that claims he missed signs of a patient having a stroke.
A scheduled five-day jury trial began Monday in Augusta County Circuit Court. Augusta Emergency Physicians, LTD., Shenandoah Emergency Medicine Specialists, LLC., and Dr. David A. Rylak were named as defendants in the initial filing of the lawsuit.
In February 2020, according to the lawsuit, Thomas L. Hughes went to the Augusta Health emergency room in Fishersville with complaints of slurred speech, dizziness, weakness on his left side, headache, difficulty walking and trouble breathing.
After Dr. Rylak listened to Hughes' lungs, he ordered a chest X-ray and an electrocardiogram. The lawsuit states "then he left the examination room for several hours." Reportedly after conducting no more studies or evaluations, the doctor told Hughes he was suffering from either reactive airways disease or lingering flu symptoms. The lawsuit said he ordered a nebulizer treatment and sent Hughes home with steroids.
After Hughes' symptoms continued for five days, he went to a family doctor who immediately ordered a CT with contrast, which indicated he was having a stroke, according to the lawsuit.
Hughes was hospitalized for 12 days, and the lawsuit said his stay was complicated by pneumonia and pulmonary disorder. He was discharged and given medicine to combat blood clots.
Claiming negligence, the lawsuit said the defendants failed to perform a complete neurological exam, failed to order a CT with contrast, and failed to "appreciate" Hughes' slurred speech, focal weakness and facial droop, among other complaints.
Rylak now works for an urgent care provider in Harrisonburg and is not listed as a staff member on the webpage for Augusta Health's emergency department.
Hughes is seeking $2.4 million from the three defendants. The five-day jury trial began Monday and is expected to conclude Friday.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Physician, two groups sued in Augusta County for $2.4 million
