Pontoon Beach man sues hospital over wife's death

A Pontoon Beach man filed a 15-count wrongful death suit against Gateway Regional Medical Center in Madison County Circuit Court alleging his wife died due to a tracheal-bronchial laceration and anoxic brain injury.

Donald Beckley claims his wife Rosella suffered a hip fracture on Sept. 24, 2006, and was admitted to Gateway for treatment.

According to the complaint filed March 14, Rosella underwent surgery to repair the hip fracture and was admitted to the coronary care unit on a ventilator following surgery.

Beckley alleges that on Oct. 1, 2006, Gateway exchanged his wife's endotracheal tube for a larger tube and when doing so the hospital improperly manipulated the endotracheal tube changer causing a tracheal-bronchial laceration.

He claims that as a result of the improper manipulation, Gateway proximately caused injury to his wife including death as the result of a tracheal-bronchial laceration and anoxic brain injury.

"The wrongful death of Rosella Beckley has caused Donald Beckley and her next of kin to suffer great pecuniary losses and injuries and have been deprived of the valuable services that Rosella Beckley was accustomed to performing for them and would have continued to perform but for her death," the complaint states.

Beckley also claims that prior to her death, Rosella suffered respiratory distress, conscious pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses and disfigurement.

He also claims that he has become liable for funeral and burial expenses.

Represented by Eric Evans and Dawn Kamadulski of Roth Evans in Granite City, Beckley is seeking damages in excess of $750,000, plus costs.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

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