Patient claims surgeon lacerated small bowel in med mal complaint

Cynthia Moore filed a medical malpractice suit against Dennis Hurford, M.D. alleging he was negligent during an exploratory surgery.

Seeking damages in excess of $50,000, Moore claims Hurford was performing an exploratory laparotomy procedure on April 6, 2006, at Gateway Regional Medical Center to evaluate and remove an adnexal pelvic mass.

According to the suit filed April 4 in Madison County Circuit Court, Moore claims Hurford was negligent by lacerating her small bowel during the procedure and by failing to isolate the small bowel during the procedure to avoid lacerating it.

Moore claims that as a result of Hurford's alleged negligence, her small bowel was lacerated requiring removal and anastamosis of a large section of her bowel which caused a lengthy and expensive hospital stay causing medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.

Moore is represented by Darren Daley of Columbia.

In his affidavit, Daley said he was unable to obtain a consultation from a health care professional as required by statute because the statute of limitations would have expired.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

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