Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City
Granite City Anesthesia (GCA) and Granite City Hospital (GCH) were targets of a lawsuit filed by Dale Hughes who is seeking damages in excess of $200,000 for a broken tooth and lost medical records.
The incident occurred Sept. 16, 2004, while Hughes was receiving anesthesia before undergoing a surgical procedure. He alleges that while GCA was administering anesthesia, a tube placed into his mouth fractured his tooth.
Hughes claims the incident caused him to become sick, sore, lame, disordered and disabled and he sustained injuries to his head, body, and mouth both internally and externally.
According to the complaint filed in Madison County Circuit Court Feb. 3, GCA and GCH owed him a duty to use reasonable care of anesthesia tools and surgical instruments over which it has exclusive control.
Hughes claims he has had to spend money for medical care, treatment and services to repair his tooth, and also claims he has suffered disability as a result of his injuries. He also has suffered pain and suffering.
The suit also claims the defendants allowed or caused the deletion, alteration, loss or destruction of his medical records, claiming they had a duty to preserve the account of injury since they knew the medical records would be material evidence in a potential civil action.
Represented by Thomas Rich of Fairview Heights, Hughes is seeking a fair and just award in excess of $200,000 plus all costs of the suit.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge George Moran.
05 L 111 (3rd Circuit