Cardiac doctor on stand in Kent trial

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A doctor who was working in the emergency room the night Michael Woods died took the stand in the Kent Hospital wrongful death trial Tuesday.

Actor James Woods appeared in court for the eleventh day of the trial over his brother's death. His attorneys charge that Kent Hospital was negligent in treating his brother.

Dr. Robert Heinl was working in the Kent Hospital emergency room cardiac unit, and briefly saw Woods as he was rushed through the MCU.

"I assumed he was very sick," Heinl told the court, "because of the group of people that were accompanying him through the unit. He looked pale. But that's the only thing that I could really notice because I wasn't really looking at him; I was looking at Dr. Naylor, and I asked her if I could help her. She said no, she didn't need my help, and they kept moving off, off into the direction of the CPR room."

With Heinl on the stand, Woods's attorney fought to admit the hospital's "chest pain protocol." Michael Woods's symptoms included a burning sensation in his throat area. With the jury out of the courtroom, Mark Decof argued a version of that symptom is mentioned in the protocol -- his point: The hospital's own standards called for his brother to be put on a heart monitor in doctor heinl's m-c-u, not in a hallway.

The judge did not allow that hospital protocol and policy to be admitted as evidence -- at least not yet.

Testimony continues Wednesday, with an expert witness returning to the stand for Day 12.