Widow of Actor Bernie Mac Sues Dermatologist

Bernie Mac, actor and comedian, died two weeks after being improperly treated by his long-time dermatologist in what his widow, Rhonda McCullough, believes caused his untimely death.

McCullough has alleged in court papers that Dr. Rene M. Earles kept Mac at his medical clinic for 9 hours on July 17, 2008 when an ambulance should have been called to transport him to a hospital.

This delay, McCullough believes, is what sent Mac into motion for disastrous setbacks in his health, and ultimately, his death from pneumonia two weeks later.

As reported by the Chicago Sun Times, the lawsuit has been filed in Cook County Circuit Court and claims that Dr Earles "failed to recognize cardiopulmonary instability in Bernie" and "failed to recognize and act upon abnormal vital signs and signs of respiratory failure."

Earles confirmed for the Sun Times that Mac did have an appointment in his practice on July 17, 2008 and stated, "He walked in, he looked a little weak and I said, 'Bernie what's wrong?' and he said, 'I had a little cold and a doctor at Northwestern gave me an injection for it.'"

Earles wasn't aware of what the injection was that Mac reportedly received from the other doctor, but he didn't think his patient was well enough to endure his normal therapy to treat lesions caused by sarcoidosis, the inflammatory lung disease Mac had for the last 20 years. The treatment includes routine injections of medication into his skin.

Mac arrived at 2:30 p.m., was given oxygen, and allowed to sleep undisturbed until 6:30 p.m.  At that time Earles gave Mac a physical exam and found that he had a low-grade fever, wheeze, rash and an elevated heartbeat. 

Earles concluded that Mac was having a reaction to the drugs given to him by the doctor he had seen earlier that day.  He stabilized Mac, gave him medications to stop the drug's reactions and called Mac's doctor. 

Mac's physician, at or affiliated with Northwestern Memorial Hospital, then revealed to Earles that Mac had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.  Earles recalls that the physician now told him to have Mac admitted to a hospital.

Mac was woken at 10 p.m., and Earles reportedly saw his chauffeur drive him to the hospital.

Bernie Mac, his given name being Bernard McCullough, aged 50, died from complications to pneumonia on August 9, 2008.

Earles, 59, reported that Mac's death has been hard for him, "It was entirely devastating. Look, Bernie was my patient. Bernie was my friend. We became extremely close -- we were like brothers. He didn't die the next day, he didn't die in two days. He died in two weeks and he got over his original strain of pneumonia. He got another strain of pneumonia while he was in the hospital."

Mac's wife, Rhonda McCullough, is seeking $50,000.  Her attorney has not commented.

If you, or someone you love, has fallen victim to medical malpractice, contact a medical malpractice attorney near you today.