Alton Memorial named in medical malpractice complaint

A medical malpractice complaint against Alton Memorial Hospital claims doctors failed to perform laboratory tests on a child who was wrongly diagnosed with mononucleosis and lymphadenopathy.

Samantha Hayes, on behalf of decedent William Hayes, filed suit Feb. 18 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Hayes claims the child presented to the hospital on Sept. 16 with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and cramping. He was sent home without lab tests, the suit claims.

On Sept. 20, he was rushed by ambulance to Alton Memorial due to a full cardiac arrest, the suit says. He was then subsequently transferred to St. Louis Children's Hospital, where a blood analysis confirmed leukemia.

"That on or about September 20, 2014, William was given no meaningful chance of functional recovery, and was taken off mechanical ventilation and inotropic support," the suit says. "He died shortly after."

Among other allegations, the suit claims the defendant failed to consider a different diagnosis compatible with the history and clinical signs that William Hayes presented in the emergency room on Sept. 16.

Hayes seeks in excess of $50,000 in damages.

She is represented by Keith Short of Edwardsville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-211.