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Patient claims colon perforation in med mal suit

MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Patient claims colon perforation in med mal suit

Plaintiff Mary Fricker has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Saint Anthony's Health Center and several physicians in Madison County Circuit Court claiming she suffered complications from a colonoscopy performed June 16, 2004.

Fricker, who claims she suffered a cecal (colon) perforation, is represented by Keith Short of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli, Rowland, Short & Gori.

According to the complaint filed June 15, the Alton hospital is negligent for failing to:

  • Establish and/or monitor and enforce rules, regulations and systems to ensure safe and controlled patient care and appropriateness of patient care; and

  • Monitor and evaulate, on an ongoing basis and in a timely fashion, the proficiency of performance and function of its agents, employees, systems and equipment.

    Other defendants in the suit include Milton Pozo, M.D., Ahmad Karadaghy, M.D., Padma Kandula, M.D., Radiologic Physicians and John Doe Emergency Group.

    Fricker entered the hospital June 16, 2004, and again June 17, 2004 through June 23, 2004.

    She claims she suffered severe and permanent injuries, as well as physical pain and mental anguish, as a result of her condition going undiagnosed.

    Fricker claims Dr. Pozo failed to:

  • Assure adequate and relevant communication with physicians and hospital personnel;

  • Prioritize and pursue significant elements of the differential diagnosis;

  • Assure in a timely fashion appropriate testing of plaintiff; and

  • Assure personal evaluation of plaintiff by appropriate specialist physicians.

    The complaint alleges Dr. Karadagby injured Fricker's cecum during the colonoscopy on June 16, but he failed to diagnose the condition and sent her home.

    "That later that day, June 17, 2004, plaintiff presented to Saint Anthony's with signs and symptoms of cecal perforation and was evaulated by Dr. Pozo," the complaint states. "Dr. Pozo contacted Dr. Kardagby, who requested that plaintiff be admitted to Saint Anthony's under Dr. Karadagby's care."

    The suit alleges Dr. Kandula is negligent for his role in dictating reports of imaging studies performed on Fricker.

    "That it, then and there, became defendant Dr. Kandula's duty in reviewing, evaluating, and reporting to plaintiff's physicians, his/her impressions of plaintiff's radiographic studies, to exercise due care and skill according to the common and good practice of reasonable and prudent physicians," he complaint states.

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