Woman's estate sues St. Anthony's and doctor for wrongful death

Georgia Basham's estate filed a wrongful death suit against St. Anthony's Health Center, Trudy Shady, M.D. and Alton Multispecialist, LTD, seeking damages in excess of $150,000 claiming the defendants failed to perform proper tests.

Peggy Beckham, the administrator of Basham's estate, claims that on Oct. 18, 2004, Georgia Basham was admitted to St. Anthony's emergency room and was treated by Shady, an employee of Alton Multispecialist.

According to the complaint filed in Madison County Circuit Court on April 19, Shady ordered several blood tests including a CBC and BMP.

"St. Anthony's and Dr. Shady released Georgia without reviewing the test results," the complaint alleges.

Beckham claims that Georgia was released and died five days later due to an acute gastro-intestinal bleed that went undiagnosed at Basham's initial emergency room visit.

"Had the proper testing been performed, Georgia would not have been sent home, because the testing documented severe anemia and the BMP documented severe dehydration," the complaint states.

Beckham alleges that if Basham had been properly diagnosed, she would have been transfused, the GI bleed would have been treated and she would not have died.

She also claims that Basham incurred pain and suffering before her death, and her next of kin have suffered pecuniary losses and loss of society, as well as funeral and burial expenses.

The estate is represented by John Webster of Alton.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Don Weber.

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