A former journalism student sued Ohio University last week, saying doctors at Hudson Health Center failed to properly treat her for a rare infection that later forced doctors to amputate her right arm and shoulder.
At the heart of the medical negligence complaint filed by Molly Millsop and her parents, all of Vandalia, Ohio, are Millsop's visits to Hudson Sept. 6, 2007. Doctors at Hudson, who examined Millsop twice that day, diagnosed her with a sore throat, muscle strain and anxiety.
Millsop actually had necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria. In the lawsuit, Millsop's lawyer argues that if Hudson had diagnosed her sooner, she could have avoided the amputation or kept more of her arm.
Sally Linder, OU's senior director of media relations, released a written statement on the lawsuit: Although we cannot comment on this particular situation
cases involving medical treatment can be complicated and require study by all parties involved. All of us at Ohio University continue to feel great compassion for Molly and her family during this difficult time.
Doctors at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital diagnosed Millsop and had her airlifted to the Ohio State University Medical Center, where her shoulder and arm were amputated.
The Millsops' complaint asks for $25,000 in damages, a standard amount in the Court of Claims of Ohio. Scott Millsop said that amount wouldn't come close to covering his daughter's medical bills.
It was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Thankfully we had good insurance he said, adding that Molly now needs an expensive prosthetic arm which must be replaced every few years and costs about $40,000.
The lawsuit also asks for damages caused by emotional pain, physical pain, future lost earnings and a lessened ability to enjoy life. It recounts Molly's three visits to Hudson on Sept. 6 and says doctors there departed from the accepted standards of medical care in failing to properly monitor
diagnose and treat her.
Scott Millsop recalled his daughter calling him that morning, complaining of nausea, dizziness and a mysterious pain in her right arm.
I said
'Go to the health center
' because I was under the impression it was actually a medical facility
he said. Once there, Scott Millsop said doctors ignored his daughter, giving her an anti-nausea drug and letting her leave.
The pain got worse and Millsop returned to Hudson in the afternoon. Molly could barely climb Hudson's stairs, Scott Millsop said, adding that doctors then diagnosed her with anxiety and told Molly to breathe into a paper bag. After another phone call from his daughter, Millsop drove two-and-a-half hours to Athens to see Molly.
When I got there
she was literally writhing in pain
rolling on a little examining bed
Scott Millsop said, adding that doctors seemed indifferent to her condition when he arrived.
The lawsuit also contends that the university knew Hudson couldn't provide adequate medical treatment to students and has a history of providing substandard care.
In a presentation before the Board of Trustees last year, Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, called Hudson unhealthy and urged construction of a new student health center. Plans fell through after the university realized it could not afford a new building, but officials are pressing forward with plans to renovate Hudson and hire additional staff.
