Touchette Regional Hospital
A woman who alleges she contracted meningitis of the spine and brain during labor and delivery filed a medical malpractice suit in Madison County Circuit Court March 7.
Diane Kitchen names three defendants, Charles Nye, Jr., M.D., Touchette Regional Hospital and Michael Jackson, a certified nurse anesthetist.
She claims that on March 24, 2005, Nye agreed to perform anesthesia during her labor and delivery at Touchette.
Kitchen claims the defendants negligently and carelessly attempted an epidural placement on multiple occasions during her labor, failed to maintain sterile conditions, failed to prepare and assess her for an epidural and failed to properly supervise anesthetists attending.
She claims her meningitis has caused and will continue to cause extreme pain and discomfort, an impairment in her earning capacity, medical expenses and the loss of a normal life.
Represented by Mark Levy of Collinsville, Kitchen is seeking damages in excess of $150,000, plus costs.
In his affidavit, Levy claims he has been unable to obtain a consultation from another physician on the merits of the case and may have difficulty obtaining one prior to the expiration of the statue of limitations, therefore the defendants are not required to answer the suit until he can obtain one.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian.
07 L 220