Belleville OB sued for not performing emergency C-section

An Illinois woman is suing her obstetrician for not performing an emergency cesarean section.

Queen Nichols filed suit against William Chadwick, M.D. of Belleville, claiming he failed to recognize signs and symptoms of placental abruption when she was admitted to Memorial Hospital March 23, 2005.

The hospital and Women's Care of Southern Illinos also are named in the suit filed Sept. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Placental abruption is the early separation of a normal placenta from the wall of the uterus.

Nichols claims her son, Cameron Nichols Frison, was born following an abruption, and in consequence "suffered serious, painful, permanent injuries, including hypeflexed shoulder muscles, lung dysfunction, feeding problems, as well as a potential for seizures."

Nichols is represented by Thomas Q. Keefe, Jr. of Belleville, and is seeking in excess of $450,000 in damages.

"Plaintiff's injuries are permanent, permanently painful, disabling and disfiguring, and plaintiff has incurred and (has) become liable for large sums of money in hospital, medical and related expenses, and will become liable for additional sums in the future," the complaint states.