Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Gary Sturgill, who had a history of urinary retention, was admitted to Richmond Health Care Center under the care of physician Ujjwala Kanti Murtineni. The next day, Sturgill experienced an altered mental state and traumatically removed his Foley catheter. Several weeks later, Sturgill began complaining of abdominal pain. Staff called Murtineni, who ordered STAT labs. A nurse attempted to place a Foley catheter; however, Sturgill started to bleed into the catheter bag. He was transported to a hospital, where he was diagnosed as having acute sepsis. Sturgill went into shock and died later that day.

Sturgill’s beneficiaries sued Richmond Health Care Center and Murtineni, alleging failure to monitor Sturgill’s urine retention and ensure he had adequate renal function.

The jury awarded $300,000.

Citation: Sturgill v. HSMTX/Richmond, LLC, No. 2019-83339 (Tex. Dist. Ct. Harris Cnty. Apr. 12, 2022).

Plaintiff counsel: Tommy R. Hastings and Gregory L. Feste, both of The Woodlands, Texas.