Congressional candidate physician sues hospital and doctor for death of father

Novant Health, Atlantic Brain and Spine, and two clinicians are being sued for medical malpractice and negligence that allegedly led to the death of a patient.

Kyle Horton, MD, an internal medicine physician from North Carolina, is bringing the lawsuit on behalf of her father, Sam Horton Jr., who died at Novant’s New Hanover Regional Medical Center after five months of treatment in and out of the facility.

During those five months, Horton Jr. allegedly underwent multiple procedures that his daughter believes were negligent and medically inadvisable. The procedures subsequently led to Horton Jr.’s death, the lawsuit claims.

Named in the lawsuit are Chase Whelan, a physician assistant, and Jeffrey Beecher, MD, who are accused of authorizing the procedures without Horton Jr.’s informed consent. Whelan is accused of performing an external ventricular drain (EVD) procedure to alleviate pressure on the brain, despite not being qualified to do so.

Beecher is accused of failing to properly supervise Whelan and review his care plan.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) investigated Horton Jr.’s death and his daughter’s claims, ultimately finding them to be supported by the evidence, including that Whelan was not authorized to perform an EVD.

NCDHHS released a report on its findings, which concluded that the Horton family was not properly notified about the procedures and that informed consent was not obtained.

The incidents in question took place between Nov. 25, 2019, and Feb. 23, 2020, and a lawsuit was filed in February 2024. A court date for the trial to begin has been tentatively scheduled for April 2026, pending a settlement or other resolution.

Horton is seeking damages.

Read the full report from Port City Daily at the link below.