MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

The administrator of the estate of a deceased woman has filed suit against Anderson Hospital and three doctors, alleging the woman died because of the hospital's and doctors' negligence.

Charlie Stokes claims Frankie Mae Stokes was a patient of Anderson Hospital from Nov. 28, 2006, through her death on Jan. 22, 2007, according to the complaint filed Jan. 16 in Madison County Circuit Court.

During her hospital stay, Frankie Mae Stokes experienced an abdominal infection, severe sepsis and infected decubitus ulcers, which eventually led to her death, the suit states.

Because of her death, Charlie Stokes claims he has been deprived of Frankie Mae Stokes' companionship and society.

Anderson Hospital was negligent by failing to monitor Frankie Mae Stokes for signs of infection and by failing to timely appreciate symptoms of infection, according to the complaint.

It also negligently failed to timely appreciate signs and symptoms of Frankie Mae Stokes, failed to timely notify Frankie Mae Stokes' physicians of significant changes in her condition and failed to prevent the deterioration of decubitus ulcers in Frankie Mae Stokes, the suit states.

The hospital, through its employees, was negligent by failing to properly assess the skin integrity of Frankie Mae Stokes and by failing to properly care for the decubitus ulcers that developed on Frankie Mae Stokes, Charlie Stokes claims.

One of Frankie Mae Stokes' doctors, James Simmering, was negligent by failing to order appropriate tests to diagnose her, by failing to diagnose diverticular abscesses in her, by failing to appropriately monitor Frankie Mae Stokes for signs of infections, by failing to timely treat Frankie Mae Stokes for abdominal infection, by failing to timely recognize signs of severe sepsis, by failing to prevent the deterioration of decubitus ulcers and by failing to provide adequate treatment for the decubitus ulcers, according to the suit.

In the five-count suit, Charlie Stokes is seeking a judgment in excess of $200,000, plus costs.

Staci M. Yandle of The Law Offices of Staci M. Yandle in Belleville will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0036.