UMC lawsuit still pending

Wallace Beene, 73, who taught in the University of Arizona Journalism Department, was having two subdural hematomas - swollen areas under the outer lining of the brain - repaired July 23 when a fire broke out in the operating room. Beene suffered burns on his face and body

Beene's wife, Gerrie, said yesterday her husband needs around-the-clock attention as a result of the accident.

"The discharge papers from the UMC said he needs 24-hour supervision," she said. "He has gone from being totally independent to being almost totally dependent."

Gerrie Beene said her husband was transferred from the UMC to HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center of Tucson two weeks ago and will continue going there for physical rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Beene's family filed a lawsuit in Pima County Superior Court Aug. 31 against UMC for medical expenses, as well as for Beene's "severe pain, discomfort and scarring as a result of the burn injuries."

The malpractice suit also claims Beene "sustained severe, permanent, debilitating and life-threatening burn injuries as a direct result of the negligence and carelessness of University Medical Center Corporation and its employees."

Gerrie Beene said her husband's spirits have not changed much since arriving home.

"My husband is a very practical man, and he is very disappointed," she said. "He was going to have this surgery with a local anesthesia and was told it would take 20 minutes and he would be home in 24 hours. Now it is 16 weeks later and he is worse than he was before."

UMC official George Humphreys could not be reached yesterday afternoon.

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.