Putnam General Hospital in Hurricane, West Virginia, faced a series of medical malpractice lawsuits involving orthopedic surgeon John Anderson King and the hospital’s decision to grant him privileges. Patients alleged unnecessary or improperly performed operations. In July 2007, a Putnam County jury found the hospital negligent in credentialing King; individual patient claims still depended on their own evidence and injuries.
The hospital was later sold to Charleston Area Medical Center and now operates as CAMC Teays Valley Hospital. The history explains why searches for Putnam General Hospital WV often lead to reports about John King, negligent credentialing and the hospital’s former name.
What Happened at Putnam General Hospital in West Virginia?
Putnam General was the only acute care hospital in Putnam County, West Virginia, and it was owned by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) at the time. It hired John King, an orthopedic surgeon, in November 2002. Reports say King performed more than 500 surgeries at the hospital between December 2002 and mid 2003. Patients who later reported pain, complications and, in some cases, operations they said were not needed began filing malpractice suits, and the number of claims kept rising as more patients came forward and as the hospital’s review of King’s cases drew attention.
Who is Dr. John King, and what were the allegations?
John Anderson King, an osteopathic orthopedic surgeon, was licensed in West Virginia and in several other states when he came to Putnam General. The lawsuits alleged that he performed unnecessary surgeries, botched operations and committed other malpractice. Published accounts say there were discrepancies in his resume and an incomplete education, and that the hospital’s standard background check did not catch the problems. King later surrendered his West Virginia license and left the state, and his licenses in several other states were also suspended, surrendered or lost. In 2005 he sued Putnam General in federal court, claiming his suspension was improper.
How many lawsuits were filed over Putnam General Hospital?
The count depends on when you look. Early coverage described about 70 lawsuits, which is the number in this page’s web address. Within a few years there were more than 100 suits, and by 2007 there were 122 pending malpractice cases against King, with the hospital named as a co defendant. Lawyers for patients said the hospital should be held accountable for what they described as poor credentialing and privileging practices, which are the steps a hospital takes to check and approve a doctor before letting him treat patients.
What is negligent credentialing?
Credentialing is the process by which a hospital verifies a doctor’s education, training, licenses and work history before granting privileges. A claim for negligent credentialing says the hospital did not do that job carefully enough, and that a patient was hurt as a result. In the Putnam General litigation, patients argued that the hospital had not properly checked King’s background before letting him operate. Hospitals say they rely on reports from earlier employers and state boards, and some former employers are reluctant to share negative information, which can make it hard for a hospital to learn about problems. Our medical malpractice lawyers and hospital error lawyers handle cases that involve a hospital’s responsibility for the doctors it lets treat patients.
What did the jury decide in the Putnam General case?
In July 2007, a civil jury in Putnam County Circuit Court deliberated for about an hour before finding that Putnam General was negligent in granting King credentials. The verdict meant that the hospital’s former owners faced potential damages in the 122 pending cases. The jury’s finding addressed the hospital’s responsibility for letting King practice, and each patient’s case still had to be resolved on its own facts, including the extent of that patient’s injuries. King, facing the cases personally, filed for bankruptcy in federal court in Alabama around that time, which could delay many of the claims against him.
What happened to Putnam General Hospital?
HCA said that the lawsuits and the publicity around them had driven away patients, and announced in 2006 that it would close or convert the hospital. It had earlier tried to sell four other West Virginia hospitals, and lawyers for patients filed suits to block the sale of Putnam. After a last minute deal, the hospital was sold to Charleston Area Medical Center, which operates the facility as CAMC Teays Valley Hospital in Hurricane, West Virginia. Charleston Area Medical Center was not a defendant in the King lawsuits.
How Can You Assess Concerns About an Unnecessary Surgery?
An unexpected outcome does not by itself show that surgery was unnecessary or negligent. Ask the treating clinician to explain the diagnosis, reason for the procedure, alternatives and expected recovery. Where appropriate, seek an independent medical opinion and obtain the records needed for that review.
The relevant evidence may include the preoperative assessment, imaging, consent discussion, operative report and follow-up care. A qualified medical review can consider whether the procedure was indicated and whether a departure from care contributed to harm. Public licensing information can inform the background check, but it does not replace that patient-specific assessment.
How can you check a doctor’s background?
Start with the relevant state medical or osteopathic licensing board for public license and disciplinary information. Check the appropriate board-certification organization and ask the hospital about privileges. The National Practitioner Data Bank is confidential and is not a public doctor-search service; only eligible users may query it for authorized purposes. A public record without discipline does not guarantee the quality of care, and a suspected malpractice claim requires individual medical and legal review.
What if I was hurt by a surgeon or hospital error?
If you believe a surgery was unnecessary or was done carelessly, get your medical records, see another doctor and write down your timeline. Medical malpractice claims have strict filing deadlines and special requirements, and they usually need expert review, so speak with a lawyer early. The Killino Firm’s personal injury lawyers can look at what happened and explain your options. Call 878-888-7878 for a free, confidential consultation. Our child injury lawyers also handle claims involving injured children and birth injuries.
What Else Should You Know About the Putnam General Hospital Lawsuits?
Why was Putnam General Hospital sued? Patients said surgeon John King performed unnecessary and botched operations, and that the hospital was negligent in giving him privileges.
How many lawsuits were there? About 70 early on, more than 100 later and 122 pending malpractice cases by 2007.
What did the jury decide? In July 2007 a Putnam County jury found the hospital negligent in granting King credentials.
What happened to the hospital? HCA sold it to Charleston Area Medical Center, and it operates as CAMC Teays Valley.
What is negligent credentialing? A claim that a hospital did not properly check a doctor’s qualifications and history before allowing him to treat patients.
