MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

The parents of an infant who died from respiratory problems have filed suit against their child's treating physicians and hospitals.

Latoya Young and Michael Johnson claim their son, Trevon E. Johnson, died on June 28, 2008, after being treated by employees at defendant Anderson Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. Defendant Dr. Ayesha Najib of defendant Maryville Pediatrics also treated Trevon E. Johnson, according to the complaint filed June 11 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Leading up to Trevon E. Johnson's death, employees at Anderson Hospital allegedly failed to appropriately investigate Trevon E. Johnson's worsening respiratory condition, failed to notify his physician of changes in his condition including respiratory rate and grunting with rapid breathing and retractions and failed to monitor his condition, the suit states.

From Anderson Hospital, Trevon E. Johnson was transferred to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center on June 28, 2008, where employees allegedly deviated from the standard of care by failing to properly ventilate Trevon E. Johnson, the complaint says.

In addition, Najib negligently failed to appropriately monitor Trevon E. Johnson's worsening condition, failed to order appropriate diagnostic tests to timely diagnose Trevon E. Johnson's condition, failed to appropriately investigate symptoms of persistent pulmonary hypertension, failed to timely intubate and ventilate Trevon E. Johnson and failed to transfer Trevon E. Johnson to tertiary care, the complaint says.

As a result, Trevon E. Johnson sustained worsening persistent pulmonary hypertension, which occurs when a newborn's respiratory system does not adjust to life outside the womb, and right tension pneumothorax, which is a collection of air and gas between the lung and the surrounding chest wall, the suit states.

Because of his conditions, Trevon E. Johnson died, and his parents have been deprived of his companionship and society and experienced grief, sorrow and mental suffering, the complaint says.

In their eight-count suit, Young and Johnson are seeking a judgment of more than $400,000, plus costs.

Staci M. Yandle and Jamie L. Bas of The Law Offices of Staci M. Yandle in O'Fallon will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-614.