MEDIA – A Delaware County plaintiff alleges that a host of medical professionals failed to diagnose a female inmate of George Hill Correctional Facility with severe cardiopulmonary conditions before she died of cardiac arrest in October 2018.
Barbara Gieder (individually in her own right and as administratrix of the Estate of Jennifer Adam, deceased) of Media filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 24 versus The Geo Group, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla., Kelsey Anne O’Brien, R.N. of Wallingford, Margaret Griffith, N.P. of Lansdowne, Ronald B. Phillips, D.O. of Wynnewood, Kelly Mullan, PA-C of Springfield, Julia Powell, R.N. of Aston and Leslie Harless-Balmer, L.P.N. of Newark, Del.
The suit states that Adam, a recovering drug addict, was committed to the George Hill Correctional Facility in September 2018 at the age of 40. At the time of her arrest for not attending required meetings with her parole officer, Adam had been sober for seven months and working a steady job, while residing in a recovery house with other recovering addicts.
Upon arrival at the correctional facility, Adam advised that she had a pacemaker, high blood pressure and nerve damage, outlining her medical needs.
“Correctional Officer D. Leonard knew or should have known that Adam’s medical history included congestive heart failure, hypertension, endocarditis, mitral valve prolapse, open heart surgery in 2012 with mechanical mitral valve and aortic valve replacement, ruptured aortic aneurysm and other serious medical conditions,” the suit says.
“Adam advised C.O. Leonard of the medications she had been taking for her hypertension and other conditions, and that she had planned to see cardiologist to renew her prescription for the blood thinner Warfarin (Coumadin) for her heart condition at the time of her arrest.”
However, the suit adds Adam’s conditions weren’t recorded and she wasn’t provided the level of medication and medical testing that she required. As a result, her condition gradually worsened to the point she was transported to Riddle Emergency Hospital, the suit says.
“She reported to the Riddle Hospital emergency medicine physician that she had not been prescribed blood thinners and had not seen a cardiologist while incarcerated at George Hill Correctional Facility, despite her medical history of congestive heart failure, endocarditis, mitral valve replacement, aortic valve replacement and a pacemaker,” the suit states.
“Adam also reported that she had developed shortness of breath one week earlier and had been prescribed Lasix with no relief. She then developed chest pain and shortness of breath with pain described as ‘elephant is sitting on her chest.” She also reported nausea, vomiting, tines episodes of diarrhea, generalized abdominal pain and fatigue. A CT scan of her chest showed bilateral pleural effusions, adjacent atelectasis and cardiomegaly. Soon after her arrival at Riddle Hospital, Adam suffered cardiac arrest.”
The lawsuit explains she was revived, but suffered a second cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of Riddle Hospital medical personnel to save Adam’s life, they were unable to resuscitate her.
Adam passed away on Oct. 25, 2018 at 12:18 a.m., at Riddle Hospital.
For counts of survival, wrongful death, negligence, negligent hiring, supervision and retention and punitive damages, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, jointly and severally, in excess of $50,000, together with interest, costs, and such other relief this Court deems just and proper, plus a trial by jury.
The plaintiff is represented by Joseph L. Messa Jr. and Suzanne H. dePillis of Messa & Associates, in Philadelphia.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case CV-2020-007141
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com