Neil B. Ford filed a wrongful death suit against Anderson Hospital, Legatus Emergency Services and Peter B. Malench, M.D. in Madison County Circuit Court on Jan. 21 claiming the hospital and its staff incorrectly diagnosed his daughter’s illness leading to her death.
The suit seeks to recover at least $150,000 in damages.
Ford's daughter, Donna, was seen at Anderson Hospital emergency department on July 5, 2003, by Malench and was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). She was admitted to the hospital and died of sepsis and acute peritonitis later that day.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection in the female reproductive organs. Acute peritonitis is an inflammatory process within the abdominal cavity, which is usually due to a bacterial infection and is treated with antibiotics.
Ford claims Anderson Hospital was negligent in making an incorrect diagnosis, failed to recognize and properly respond to an acute abdomen and failed to obtain a surgical consultation.
Her survivors have incurred funeral bills, and Donna's parents and sisters have lost support, society, services, care, comfort, counsel and companionship which were of great pecuniary value to them, according to the suit.
An affidavit from a medical doctor specializing in emergency medicine states that a failure to properly diagnose and treat Donna Ford lessened the effectiveness of treatment and caused or contributed to the death of Donna Ford.
Ford is represented by Martin Perron of if St. Louis.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge George Moran Jr.
Anderson Hospital named in wrongful death suit
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