BELLEVILLE -- A patient alleges she suffered injuries following an operation at a facility run by Memorial Medical Group.
Beth Ann Burns and Steven Burns filed suit Aug. 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Memorial Medical Group and Dr. Pai Vasantha, alleging negligence.
She alleges the injury was caused following a procedure to remove a stone during a visit to one of the group's facilities. Her husband, Steven, is also suing for "loss of consortium," alleging he has been affected emotionally and financially in the aftermath of the procedure.
Memorial Medical Group, through its communications department, said, "It is our policy not to comment on pending litigation." Memorial is part of St. Louis-based BJC Health.
The suit centers on Beth Ann Burns' visit to the facility Dec. 19-20, 2018. The ERCP procedure, which relates to the examination of ducts containing bile, was done in an attempt to remove a stone.
The suit alleges Vasantha failed "to apply the knowledge and use the skill and care ordinarily used by a reasonably well-qualified health care provider."
The physician was "professionally negligent" and allegedly "carelessly caused duodenal perforation with subsequent peritonitis during the ERCP procedure," the suit states. The duodenum is part of the small intestine.
According to the suit, Beth Ann Burns "suffered injury to her biliary system and/or injury to her abdomen and intestines resulting in a duodenal perforation and subsequent peritonitis." The biliary system makes and stores bile.
The suit alleges Burns has sustained constant pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of a normal life, plus "great sums of money for medical and hospital treatment."
Burns also alleges loss of earning capacity.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorney Joseph Bartholomew of Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin & Cook of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 19-L-0551