Thaindian News

August 9, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Bernie Mac’s widow has reportedly sued her late husband’s doctor for failing to recognize the seriousness of his disease. The widow sues Rene M. Earles, a dermatologist by profession for wrongful death of the comedian who had succumbed to pneumonia in 2008. The lawsuit has been filed last week by the bereaved widow, Rhonda McCullough and she accuses the doctor of neglecting to take into consideration the severe symptoms of Mac. The star of ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ had visited the Illinois clinic of the doctor in July 2008 and breathed his last following complications from pneumonia on August the same year.

She is said to believe that the life of her husband could be saved if he had been admitted to a hospital immediately instead of being detained at the clinic. The lawsuit has been filed at the Cook County Circuit Court and states that Earles had failed to take cognizance of the sinking vital signs and the symptoms of respiratory failure. Earles had not bothered to call an ambulance, the widow added.

The doctor, however, defended himself by stating that he had advised the star to get himself admitted to the hospital once he noticed that the comedian had a rash and was suffering from fever. He also admits to have done so on learning that Mac had been diagnosed with pneumonia which affected both his lungs.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the 50 year old actor was then treated at the emergency room of the hospital by the doctors there. He had been taken to the hospital by his chauffeur.

Earles further defended himself by adding that Mac did not die immediately or in two days. He was in fact, cured of pneumonia but suffered a setback after he was re-infected by another strain at the hospital. He died two weeks after being admitted.