Woman sues HMHP over husband's death

YOUNGSTOWN -- A widow has sued Humility of Mary Health Partners, alleging it was responsible for the wrongful death of her 43-year-old husband almost four years ago in St. Joseph Health Center in Warren.
Gail Little of Niles filed the action in the Aug. 12, 2002, death of her husband, Robert G., to whom she said hospital employees negligently administered alcohol intravenously. The suit said his death caused the family $2.5 million in damages and demanded a jury trial.
Little, who had undergone a bone marrow transplant for leukemia, didn't drink alcohol, and an autopsy showed he died of ethanol toxicity, the suit says. He had been admitted to the hospital for back pain, ultimately diagnosed as shingles, and had been appropriately treated by his physicians, the suit adds.
Citing patient confidentiality and HMHP's policy of not commenting on lawsuits, an HMHP spokeswoman declined to discuss the case.
The suit was refiled Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Attys. James L. Pazol and Raymond J. Tisone within one year of the dismissal of an earlier suit and is assigned to Judge Maureen Sweeney.