Mother sues over infant's brain injury; Claims doctors failed to take her off Zoloft

The mother of twins claims her son suffered from a brain injury after he was deprived of adequate amounts of oxygen.

Lauren K. Reed filed a lawsuit June 5 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Southwestern Illinois Health Facilities, doing business as Anderson Hospital, Granite City Clinic Corporation, doing business as Meridian Ob-Gyn Associates, and Drs. Kevin Scharff and Dennis Hurford.

In her complaint, Reed alleges doctors at Anderson Hospital and Granite City Clinic Corporation failed to timely intubate her twin son, Griffin Allen Reed, causing him to be deprived of sufficient oxygen. In turn, Griffin suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which caused him to suffer multiple injuries including the loss of enjoyment of a normal life, disfigurement, disability, pain and suffering, according to the complaint. He also suffers from an inability to become adequately educated and suffers from an impaired earning capacity, the suit states.

Lauren Reed also blames the doctors for negligently failing to refer her to a perinatologist during her pregnancy, failed to take her off Zoloft, failing to ensure her evaluation by a perinatologist and failing to ensure the timely availability of an individual to intubate Griffin Allen Reed.

Lauren Reed is seeking a judgment of more than $500,000, plus costs. She is being represented by Joseph A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 14-L-823.