Couple seeks $1.35 million in complaint against Belleville doctors, practices

A man has filed suit against the doctors who were treating him for various abdominal issues, saying he suffered from multiple inflictions, including kidney failure and a foreign object inserted into his body, after doctors failed to adequately perform a number of procedures.

Maynard Hudson claims defendant Dr. Stephen A. Schmidt ordered an abdominal scan in an attempt to determine what was causing Hudson to experience abdominal pain, loose stools, poor appetite, dehydration and weight loss. However, before the CT scan, defendant Dr. Michael Barrows failed to consult with Schmidt, according to the complaint filed Jan. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Maynard Hudson had a history of Crohn’s disease, diabetes and renal failure, the suit states. Because Barrows did not consult with Schmidt, Barrows failed to provide Hudson with fluids and failed to decrease the intravenous contrast dose below the routine dose when he performed the CT scan on Feb. 5, 2011, the suit states.

In turn, Hudson suffered a significant deterioration of his kidneys, endured damage to his kidneys, experienced a decreased urine output and suffered from acute chronic renal failure, the complaint says. He also claims he suffered Stage IV kidney disease, incurred medical costs and experienced extreme pain and suffering.

By Feb. 7, 2011, Maynard Hudson had ended up in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, the complaint says. However, he claims he continued to receive inadequate care there.

Schmidt, Hudson’s physician, had ordered that he take Azathioprine to treat his Crohn’s disease. However, while Maynard Hudson was at the hospital, Schmidt did not ensure that Hudson had continued to take his medication, according to the complaint.

In addition, defendant Drs. Wallace K. Abel and James M. Hitchcock, who had been treating Hudson at the hospital, allegedly failed to recognize that Maynard Hudson was not taking the Azathioprine while in the hospital; failed to appreciate the pancreatitis Hudson was suffering from, which is normally caused by Azathioprine in patients; and re-prescribed Azathioprine without discussing the move with Maynard Hudson’s gastroenterologist, the suit states.

Because of Abel’s alleged mistakes, Maynard Hudson further suffered from acute drug-induced pancreatitis, debility and a re-emergence of his rash, the complaint says.

On Aug. 24, 2011, defendant Dr. Hans H. Moosa treated Maynard Hudson for repair of his abdominal aortic and iliac artery aneurysms, the plaintiffs claim. However, before and during the surgery, Moosa allegedly engaged in a number of negligent actions, including his failure to appreciate pancreatitis, which was caused by Maynard Hudson’s intake of Azathioprine; failed to discuss the prescription of Azathioprine with Maynard Hudson’s gastroenterologist before prescribing the medication for home use; and left a lap sponge in Maynard Hudson’s abdomen, according to the complaint.

Because of Moosa’s actions, Maynard Hudson suffered from hypotension, shock, thrombocytopenia and weakness; was required to undergo an additional surgery to remove the lap sponge; experienced extreme pain and suffering; and incurred further medical costs, the suit states.

Due to her husband’s medical problems, co-plaintiff Judith Hudson says she lost Maynard Hudson’s services and consortium.

The Hudsons blame Schmidt for contributing to Maynard Hudson’s injuries, saying he negligently failed to appreciate the risk for kidney damages that Maynard Hudson faced, failed to communicate his risk for kidney damage and failed to warn Maynard Hudson that he would need to pump himself with fluids before his CT scan.

In addition to Barrows and Schmidt, the Hudsons name Radiology Consultants of Mid-America as a defendant, saying Barrows worked for the company at the time of Maynard Hudson’s injuries.

They also name Belleville Family Medical Associates as a defendant, saying Abel and Hitchcock worked for the company at the time of Maynard Hudson’s injuries.

Memorial Medical Group, MSA Alliance and Protestant Memorial Medical Center, all three of which employed Moosa at the time of the surgery, are also named as defendants.

In their complaint, Maynard Hudson and his wife are seeking a judgment of more than $1.35 million, plus costs.

They will be represented by Christian G. Montroy of Montroy Law Offices in East St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-48.