Deng Hong Li, through attorney Robert H. Myers Jr., named CHC and Thomas Austin, a surgeon at CHC, in his complaint filed in Superior Court.
The Variety tried but failed to get a statement from CHC or Dr. Austin.
Li said he was involved in a vehicular accident on May 12, 2007.
While in the CHC emergency room, Li said “it was explained that he has a fracture to his left little finger and discharge instructions are given as well.”
Li said he tried to see Austin several times, but CHC told him the surgeon was on Tinian on May 15, 2007.
On May 24, 2007, Li said Austin performed an operation on his left finger, and released him with instructions to return after five days.
“Before the operation however Austin and CHC did not explain the proposed operation to be done [on Li] or the risks involved or any alternatives thereto. CHC and Austin did not provide a Chinese translator or did not provide documents that were written in any form of Chinese language for [Li],” according to the complaint.
On May 29, 2007, Li said because of experiencing “tremendous pain in his left hand and finger,” he went to CHC emergency room, where the “CHC and Austin just cleaned the wound area.”
He was instructed to return to CHC on June 1, 2007, Li said.
When he returned, Li said he was told that Austin was “unavailable or off island.”
At that time, Li said he was “still experiencing great pain in his left hand and finger.”
Every time he went to CHC, Li said Austin was unavailable or off island, while CHC “note[d] an infection and cleaned the wound area.” He was told by CHC to return in “one week.”
On June 22, 2007, Li said Austin met him, cleaned the wound area, redressed it, and told him to return in one week.
On July 10, 2007, Li returned with “tremendous pain in his left finger” to CHC, where Austin again cleaned the wound area redressed it and instructed him to return in “three or four weeks.”
On Sept. 14, 2007, Li said he visited Marianas Medical Center because he was still experiencing tremendous pain in his left finger.
MMC found out that the left little finger “has fused together,” Li said.
“MMC determined that [Li] required hand surgery to possibly repair the fused finger. MMC noted that there may not be a reasonable possible repair, however, as there is no surgeon at CHC for this type of procedure to fix the fused finger,” Li’s complaint stated.
Austin improperly undertook to treat Li’s injured finger without the informed consent of the plaintiff, the complaint said.
Li is demanding judgment against CHC and Austin on each of the claims in an amount to be proven at trial, and damages, plus attorney’s fees, interest and costs of suit, and other relief.
