An inmate serving a 70-year murder sentence at Menard Correctional Center has filed a medical malpractice suit against two physicians and the prison's medical service provider in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Hilton Lloyd Keller claims that had a growth on his larynx been properly diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux, he would not have had to undergo two unnecessary lymph node biopsy surgeries and suffer permanent nerve damage.
The suit names Levi S. Kirkland, M.D., Faisal Ahmad, M.D. and Wexford Health Sources as defendants.
A year ago Keller had voluntarily dismissed a similar lawsuit without prejudice, refiling this one within a year.
Represented by Barbara J. Clinite of Chicago, Keller claims he has suffered great pain, both in body and mind, and was caused to and did suffer loss of a normal life and disability. He is seeking in excess of $150,000 in damages.
After Keller complained of an extremely sore throat and swollen lymph glands on Oct. 20, 2004, Dr. Ahmad performed a biopsy. Keller claims Dr. Ahmad is negligent for failing to refer him to an appropriate specialist.
He became a patient of Dr. Kirkland's on June 29, 2005, for complaints of swollen lymph glands, at which time another biospy was performed.
Keller claims Dr. Kirkland cut and removed nerve tissue and damaged the nerves in his neck, failed to obtain informed consent and failed to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux.
Prison records show that Keller also is serving time for attempted armed robbery. He was convicted in Cook County in 1991.
The Illinois Department of Corrections website shows that Keller has 1991 convictions in Livingston County for criminal damage to property and aggravated battery.
Inmate files med mal suit over lymph node surgery
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