Touchette Regional Hospital in Centerville
An East St. Louis obstetrician and Touchette Regional Hospital were named in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by a woman whose son was born with brain damage.
Ericka Roland claims that her physician, Kia Boxley, M.D., admitted her to Touchette Hospital in Centreville on July 23, 2004, for delivery of twins. Roland, who gave birth on July 28, 2004, claims Boxley failed to perform a timely and necessary cesarean section.
According to the complaint filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Roland's son, Keshawn Broadway, suffered severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)--brain damage. As a result, he has suffered extreme physical and mental suffering and will continue to suffer for the remainder of his life, Roland claims.
She also alleges that Boxley failed to follow up on vital medical information, failed to pay attention to electronic fetal monitoring and failed to monitor the labor and delivery.
"HIE" is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain damage. It may cause death in the newborn period or result in what is later recognized as developmental delay, mental retardation or cerebral palsy.
According to a published report by Michael Johnson, M.D. from the Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, HIE in neonates is often difficult to diagnose in "real time" at the bedside because of the variety of disorders that can cause neonatal seizures and other nonspecific signs of encephalopathy.
Standard interventions to support respiratory and cardiovascular disorders associated with HIE are appropriate, but none has been demonstrated to alter neurologic outcome, the report states.
Roland, who also claims Keshawn’s injuries will prevent him from gaining employment and will require him to undergo extensive medical and surgical care, is seeking at least $300,000 in damages.
Ray Alexander of Brown & Crouppen in St. Louis will represent Roland.
05 L 499 (20th Circuit)