Published: October 18, 2007 09:15 pm         

Mother sues hospital after student dies from bacterial meningitis

MARTIN — A hospital ignored a UT-Martin student's severe case of bacterial meningitis for several hours, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her mother.

Jodi Woods, an education major from Lawrenceburg, died June 2006 from complications of the disease which infects the tissues surrounding the brain.

Her mother, Donna Shedd, said Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin left Woods in the emergency room for five hours without giving her potentially lifesaving antibiotics, reported the university's student newspaper, The Pacer.

She was eventually taken by helicopter to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, but died soon after arriving.

The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages and court costs and also names a nurse, a doctor and Community Health Systems Inc., the Brentwood-based owner of the hospital.

Woods went to the hospital with symptoms of the disease such as a stiff neck, high fever and severe headache. But according to the lawsuit, the hospital staff suspected her of being on drugs, strapped her down to a bed and asked if she "was a drama queen."

"Jodi Woods cried out in agony and moaned so loudly that it echoed through the corridors of the Emergency Department, disturbing those who sat waiting," the lawsuit says. "Jodi Woods was wholly isolated and alone while the hospital staff was joking around with one another in the intake area."

Woods was only taken to the Jackson hospital after pleading with staff members, says Shedd, who is represented by Nashville attorney Michael G. Sheppard.

"The staff at Volunteer Community Hospital would again like to express our deepest sympathy to the Shedd family. We continue to keep them in our prayers," according to a statement from the hospital. "Due to the pending litigation surrounding this case, we cannot comment further."

A spokeswoman for Community Health Systems Inc., which owns or operates more than 130 hospitals across the country, said the company had no comment about the lawsuit.