Belleville Memorial Hospital
Melissa Young, administrator for the estate of Neola Roddy, filed a medical malpractice suit against Belleville Memorial Hospital Sept. 12 in St Clair County alleging the hospital failed to properly and adequately care, treat and attend to Roddy.
Roddy died Sept. 19, 2003.
Young claims Roddy was admitted to Memorial on Aug. 5, 2003, and was a patient until Sept. 12, 2003. According to Young's complaint, Memorial failed to take proper and necessary preventive measures to avoid injury while Roddy was confined as a patient.
According to the suit, Memorial failed to provide an adequate level of nutrition and hydration, failed to prevent the development of Roddy's decubitus ulcers and then failed to properly treat the ulcers.
A California medical expert--Loren Lipson, M.D.--claims Young has a legitimate cause of action against the hospital.
Lipson vows that Roddy was admitted for shortness of breath during a renal hemodialysis treatment and has a past medical history of end stage renal disease, four vessel coronary bypass surgery in 2001, long standing hypertension, and diabetes mellitus and chronic plural effusion.
"Roddy's condition of ill health was not cured or alleviated, but greatly worsened, culminating in her death," the complaint states.
Young also claims that prior to her death, Roddy experienced great pain and suffering, became liable for medical expenses, suffered a disability and lost the enjoyment of life.
Represented by Patricia Zimmer of Belleville, Young is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 plus costs of the suit.
05 L 534(20th Circuit)