MD Facing Malpractice Suit After Felony Arrest

Dr. Geoffrey Lucas, recently arrested on three felony charges, is now being sued by a Canastota couple for medical malpractice, as reported in the Oneida Daily Dispatch.

Besides Lucas, the suit, filed on December 21 in Madison County Supreme Court, also names Dr. Mehri Del Pino, Women's Health Associates and Oneida Healthcare Center.

Morris and Melissa Halladay have engaged the services of attorney's Charles Falgiatano and Jean Marie Westlake.  They are suing for "severe emotional distress, mental anguish and pain and suffering" brought about from Lucas' "reckless, egregious, grossly negligent, wanton and with absolute disregard for human life."

Melissa Halladay, a patient at Women's Health Associates since 1995, had Lucas serve as her primary physician in her 2009 pregnancy.  Toward the end of her pregnancy and diagnosed with gestational diabetes, Halladay was prescribed insulin and monitored.

Nearing week 39 of her pregnancy, Halladay began to experience discharges. She visited Oneida Healthcare, had a urinalysis, which showed that she was experiencing a very high sugar level.

Lucas was advised of the diagnosis and - without examining Halladay - prescribed, over the phone, a regimen of ingesting more liquids and keeping her feet up. 

Once home Halladay endured six more days of heavy discharges.  Several phone calls to OHC's emergency room only warranted instructions to continue doing what she was doing and advising her that her experience was normal.  The person she spoke to on each occasion was only identified as a nurse.

On October 15, Halladay returned to the OHC due to the onset of contractions.  Del Pino, the physician on call at the hospital that day, was in charge of her treatment. 

Del Pino, and several other medical professionals were unable to detect the baby's heartbeat at OHC. Halladay was examined and ruptured membranes, which left little amniotic fluid present, was found.  It was at this point, per the suit, that Lucas was notified.  He arrived over an hour later.

Lucas confirmed what Del Pino and the other medical professionals already had diagnosed: There was no fetal heartbeat.  Lucas told the Halladays that their baby - that Halladay had to deliver - was to be stillborn.

Previous x-rays had shown the doctors that Halladay had a very small pelvis, yet they chose a routine vaginal delivery.  Labor was reportedly "excruciating" as it was lengthy and the baby was large: nine pounds.

The fetus, described as "mangled", was left "for an extended period of time" in Halladay's hospital room.

Mike Healy, the Community Relations Director at OHC, expressed condolences to the family, refused to comment on the litigation and said only that the event was an "extremely tragic and devastating situation for the family and everyone involved."

Lucas, on leave from Women's Health Associates at this time, is facing other felonies.  He is being charged with two counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance, which are a class C felony, and one count of first-degree identity theft, a class D felony.

His criminal case is expected to occur on March 4 in Oneida City Court and his criminal attorney is Mike St Leger of Oneida.

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