PITTSBURGH — A couple are claiming negligence after the husband allegedly suffered a fall while a patient at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Thomas Clancy and Sherri Clancy filed a complaint Aug. 11 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against St. Clair Memorial Hospital doing business as St. Clair Hospital alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, Thomas Clancy underwent an upper GI endoscopy to band his "esophageal varices" on Dec. 29, 2020, at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh. The plaintiffs claim that due to COVID protocols, Sherri Clancy was not allowed to accompany her husband in the hospital and was assured by hospital staff that he would be given "red socks" to indicate he was a fall risk.
They allege that Thomas Clancy was not given the socks to prevent a fall and that while in the recovery area, he was left alone, medicated and unsupervised to dress himself and suffered a fall. The plaintiffs claim he suffered a hip fracture which required surgery and that St. Clair failed to implement proper fall risk interventions.
They further claim St. Clair was negligent for failing to properly supervise and assist Mr. Clancy who was a fall risk and for not documenting or performing a fall risk assessment. The plaintiffs allege St. Clair was also negligent for failing to properly examine and observe Thomas Clancy despite his history and the fact that he had pain medicine and anesthesia.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Harry Cohen, Todd Bowlus and Benjamin Cohen of Harry S. Cohen & Associates PC in Pittsburgh.