The father of an Ohio University student who died in 2008 dropped his civil complaint against the university and the O'Bleness Health System last week after concluding neither played a role in his daughter's death.
Anthony Vernell of Athens still is suing Athens Medical Associates and one of its doctors, Imber Coppinger, for injecting his daughter, Lianne Nicole Vernell, 22, with painkiller Marcaine 0.59 for her back pain. The drug made her go into cardiopulmonary arrest, and she died three days later.
Despite knowing the drug had potentially serious side effects, Athens Medical Associates did not have the proper resuscitation equipment available for cardiopulmonary arrest, said Kenneth Blumenthal, Anthony Vernell's attorney.
Coppinger was not working for the health system or the university when she treated Lianne Vernell, Blumenthal said. At the time, Coppinger was working for Athens Medical Associates, a health system affiliate, according to the system's Web site.
OU declined to comment on the dismissal. O'Bleness Memorial Hospital's legal department could not be reached for comment at press time.
Anthony Vernell also is suing any other medical personnel who were involved with his daughter's case at Athens Medical Associates.
Anthony Vernell filed two lawsuits after his daughter's death, one in the Ohio Court of Claims and another in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas.
He dropped the university from the Court of Claims case and dropped the health system from the Common Pleas case. The suit against Coppinger and Athens Medical Associates will continue with depositions in the Court of Common Pleas, Blumenthal said.
1 News
Gail Burkhardt
30749a.jpg
