BELLEVILLE — A man alleges Memorial Hospital medical personnel failed to timely diagnose his throat cancer, causing him to lose the right side of his vocal cord.
Christopher Hardin filed a complaint March 1 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Protestant Memorial Medical Center Inc., doing business as Memorial Hospital, Victoria Koch, CNP, Hayden Smith, M.D., Tara Topper and Stephen Sheridan, M.D., alleging negligence.
According to Hardin's complaint, he went to Memorial Hospital's emergency room in Belleville on Feb. 12, 2019, and again on March 1, 2019, due to suffering from throat pain, nasal congestion, "bilateral ear tenderness" and loss of his voice. His symptoms allegedly progressed for about two and half weeks. Hardin claims the defendants failed to adequately evaluate and diagnose his condition or have him follow up with a specialist.
Hardin claims he was later diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on his throat. He further claims that he had to undergo invasive surgery to remove the cancer and due to the delay in treatment, he suffered the loss of his right side vocal cord.
Hardin alleges he has lost the volume and tone in his voice and has suffered loss of wages as well as other damages.
Hardin seeks compensation of more than. $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Timothy Muehleisen of Edelman & Muehleisen LLC in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-0193