Lawsuit Claims Man Died from Legionnaires’ Disease at UPMC Mercy
PITTSBURGH — A woman from Jefferson Hills is suing UPMC Mercy Hospital and two of its doctors, claiming her husband contracted and ultimately died from Legionnaires’ disease while being treated there.
Barbara Primiero, acting as the administrator of her husband’s estate, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, according to documents obtained by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
The complaint includes allegations of negligence and wrongful death.
The lawsuit names UPMC Mercy, University of Pittsburgh Physicians, Dr. Rishi Vattikuti—who was a resident at the time—and Dr. Peter Harvey, who served as the attending physician.
Reno Primiero was initially admitted to UPMC Mercy on November 4, 2024, due to swelling and persistent pain in his left arm, as indicated in the lawsuit. A few days post-admission, he started experiencing fever and cough, alongside a lower oxygen saturation level. These symptoms raised concerns about a developing infection in a significantly immunocompromised patient.
Though he was discharged three days later, he returned to the hospital on November 11, 2024. Imaging revealed pneumonia, and he was eventually diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. His condition deteriorated over the subsequent days, resulting in a transfer to the intensive care unit where he was intubated. He passed away on November 23, 2024.
The lawsuit contends that “Mr. Primiero’s death… was the result of a preventable series of medical complications caused by the defendants’ failure to ensure a safe hospital environment and to promptly address Mr. Primiero’s infection symptoms.”
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that UPMC Mercy was aware of Reno Primiero’s immunosuppressed state, making him more vulnerable to infections like Legionnaires’ disease.
In response, UPMC released a statement indicating that the hospital correctly reports positive Legionella cases to the Allegheny County Health Department, which conducted thorough testing on November 20, 2024, confirming no presence of Legionella pneumophila.
