BELLEVILLE – A mother is suing Anderson Hospital. alleging her child died during childbirth due to medical negligence.
Plaintiff Taylor Smallwood, acting as Special Administrator of the estate of Cooper Smallwood, filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Nicole Helfrich, R.N., Anderson Hospital, Michelle Embick, R.N., Heather Merwin, R.N., Christina, Midkiff, M.D., and Christina L. Midkiff, M.C., citing negligence.
According to the lawsuit, Taylor Smallwood was in labor and was admitted to Anderson Hospital to give birth to her baby, Cooper Smallwood, on Feb. 26, 2022. The lawsuit alleges that Cooper had abnormal heart tracings that began at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2022. Smallwood alleges Helfrich negligently failed to notify Midkiff of the heart tracings until much later at 7:10 p.m. that evening. The lawsuit states that Midkiff did not appear at the plaintiff's beside until 2:15 a.m. on Feb. 28 and didn't perform the delivery until around 3:00 a.m.
The lawsuit states that due to the defendants' alleged negligence, the delivery of Cooper was delayed and he died as a result.
Taylor Smallwood alleges she experienced grief, sorrow, and damages to herself and her family, who have been deprived of Cooper's companionship.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. She is represented in this case by attorney Colleen C. Jones of Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin, Cook & Jones, LLP in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 23LA0715