Bellaire hospital sued after patient's death

Family members are suing over claims that a Bellaire hospital's negligence caused the death of a loved one.

The estate of Rosa Maria Triana Rojas filed a lawsuit on July 25 in Harris County District Court against Select Specialty Hospital, in Bellaire, and a hospital employee, citing negligence.

The estate says Select Specialty Hospital, located in Houston Medical Center at 2130 West Holcombe in Bellaire, failed to respond properly when an anxious and confused Rojas, 65, pulled out her tracheostomy tube and nasogastric tube after repeatedly calling the nurses' station for help on the evening of July 26, 2010.

The suit alleges that by the time hospital employees found her, she was gasping for air and suffering from brain damage. She died July 30, 2010, according to the brief.

The estate is seeking damages and court costs. It is being represented in the case by McAllen attorney Joe Cisneros.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-42692.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.