A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Nashville, Tenn.-based TriStar Centennial Medical Center by Kathy Stark, the wife of a former patient at the facility who died in a fire caused by a defibrillator in November 2022, ABC affiliate WKRN reported May 19.
The patient, Bobby Ray Stark, was receiving treatment in the hospital for bed sores and a foot infection. He had other underlying conditions as well including blindness and weakness on one side due to a previous stroke, the outlet reported.
Court documents obtained by the news outlet state that his death occurred when he was wearing a non-rebreather mask to provide oxygen due to his condition when he coded and hospital workers attempted to revive him using a defibrillator shock. However, the mask was not removed prior to the shock and the spark mixed with the highly-flammable oxygen causing fire, significant burns and later that day led to his death.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to this family for the loss of their loved one," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's last November after the incident occurred. "While we cannot discuss specifics, we are reviewing the care provided to the patient and the functionality of equipment. The death of a loved one is always very difficult, and our hearts go out to this family."
Becker's reached out to TriStar Centennial for comment on the suit and did not immediately receive a response. This story will be updated as new information becomes available.