Cummings Law Represents Patient’s Family in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against VUMC
Mar 13, 2019
Brian Cummings, Esq.
Nashville, TN (Law Firm Newswire) March 13, 2019 – A lawsuit recently filed by Cummings Law on behalf of the family of Chesta Shoemaker claims that the dedicated nurse and devoted mother died a wrongful death at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Chesta Shoemaker entered the hospital with a kidney infection in the spring of 2017. Her son, Brett Keefer, reports that her condition was noticeably improving until a resident mistakenly punctured her carotid artery while attempting to insert a central line into a vein. This mistake cut off circulation to Ms. Shoemaker’s brain. This serious mistake went unrecognized for approximately 12 hours, and later attempts to restore proper blood flow to the brain were too late. The next day, with it being clear she would die as a result of her severe brain injury caused by the lack of proper blood flow to the brain, she was taken off life support and died.
As reported on the local NBC News channel, Brian Cummings, the well-known medical malpractice attorney representing Shoemaker’s family, states that Vanderbilt Medical Center is responsible for Chesta’s wrongful death since they should have had “a more trained physician doing something so important…if this resident had caught her mistake with any kind of promptness, this wouldn’t have led to death.” The lawsuit claims both that Dr. Edwards “was not experienced enough to be permitted to attempt the procedure without supervision” and that Dr. Edwards “did not tell Ms. Shoemaker she was a resident.”
Chesta Shoemaker’s son describes his mother as “an amazing woman [who] had an excellent spirit. She was… always excited about life… and had a passion for helping people, healing, being there for people when they’re down.” The lawsuit seeks damages ranging from $15 million to $30 million. Vanderbilt’s Chief Communications Officer, John Howser when asked for his response to the case replied that “…because this matter is the subject of pending litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment.”
Contact:
Cummings Law
4235 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37215
Visit: www.cummingsinjurylaw.com
Phone: 615-800-6822
Fax: 615-815-1876
