A Cahokia mother filed a medical malpractice suit against Belleville Memorial Hospital and Joseph Shallert, M.D. on May 31 claiming the doctor and hospital failed to diagnose her daughter’s appendicitis.
Samondra Robinson claims she took her daughter to the emergency room at Memorial on Jan. 7, 2001, with complaints of right abdominal pain, vomiting and diminished appetite all of which began the previous day.
According to the complaint, Shallert diagnosed her condition as constipation and a viral syndrome and discharged her with instructions to see her doctor in two days.
Robinson alleges that Shallert was negligent by failing to diagnose appendicitis despite her symptoms and lab work results.
“Shallert’s failure to diagnose appendicitis in a timely manner resulted in a more serious sequence of peritonitis and abscess formation,” the suit states.
Robinson claims her daughter had to undergo surgical and medical care which required other surgeries plus extended hospital stays. She also claims the her daughter suffered more permanent scarring than a simple procedure would have.
The suit claims Memorial Hospital breached its duty of care owed to her daughter by failing to observe the standard of medical care. Robinson's daughter suffered severe and permanent injuries, emotional distress, pain and suffering and medical expenses, according to the complaint.
Represented by Rhonda Fiss of Belleville, Robinson is seeing a judgment against the defendants in excess of $100,000 plus all costs of the suit.
05 L 320 (20th Circuit)