Abdominal infection claimed in med mal complaint

A St. Clair County woman blames her doctor for an infection she says started after a poorly-performed surgery.

Amanda C. Washington filed a lawsuit against Dr. Richard Hehmann and Memorial Hospital Dec. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

In December 2008, according to the complaint, Washington was a patient of surgeon Dr. Hehmann, who is on staff at Memorial Hospital. Washington says she was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and abdominal tear that Dr. Hehmann says required surgery to treat.

Washington says Dr. Hehmann performed the surgery but she says the procedure was performed too aggressively. The patients says she was left with an infection in her abdomen.

Washington accuses Dr. Hehmann and Memorial Hospital of negligence. She is asking for an unspecified amount of money to compensate for her injuries, medical bills and court costs.

Attorney Lorenzo Hester of St. Louis is representing Washington.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 10-L-652