Home / Crime and Justice / Legionnaires' Lawsuit: UPMC Mercy Accused of Patient Death
Legionnaires' Lawsuit: UPMC Mercy Accused of Patient Death
23 Jul
Summary
- Suit alleges a patient contracted Legionnaires' disease at UPMC Mercy.
- The patient's wife claims negligence and wrongful death against the hospital.
- UPMC Mercy denies the presence of the bacteria, citing negative test results.
A lawsuit has been filed against UPMC Mercy Hospital and two physicians, alleging that a patient contracted Legionnaires' disease during his stay and subsequently died from the illness. The suit, initiated by Barbara Primiero on July 21, claims her husband, Reno Primiero, acquired the disease while receiving unrelated treatment at the Pittsburgh-based facility.
Primiero's wife is seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death, asserting that the hospital failed to ensure a safe environment and provide timely treatment for her husband's infection. The lawsuit also notes that UPMC Mercy was allegedly aware of Mr. Primiero's immunocompromised state, which increased his risk for Legionnaires' disease.
A spokesperson for UPMC Mercy has refuted the claims, stating that extensive testing conducted on November 20, 2024, by the Allegheny County Health Department found no presence of the Legionella pneumophila bacterium within the hospital premises. The hospital maintains it appropriately reports any positive Legionella cases.
