ST. LOUIS — A mother is suing a physician and medical facility, citing alleged failure to properly diagnose a patient, which resulted in his death.
Aida Torres filed a complaint July 12 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Dr. Williams C. Summers and South Hampton Health Care Inc., alleging the defendants failed their duty to provide medical care and presented themselves as having experience and expertise in the medical conditions faced by HIV-positive patients.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 21, 2014, her son was presented to the defendants with complaints of a bleeding rectal ulcer. He was given a prescription of Valtrex but the rectal pain and bleeding did not subside despite continues medication and examination. Decedent then undergoes a rectal biopsy which discloses the existence of a malignant anal tumor. He was diagnosed to have Stage 3B/4 anal cancer and died March 7 due to metastasized anal cancer.
As a result, Torres claims she has been deprived of the companionship of her son and suffered economic damages.
The plaintiff holds Summers, MD and South Hampton Health Care responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to timely diagnose decedent's medical condition, failed to timely and appropriately treat decedent's medical condition and failed to request appropriate consultations or to refer decedent to a specialist who could assist in diagnosing the cause of his medical condition.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in a fair and reasonable amount in excess of $25,000, for costs expended, and for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. She is represented by Gonzalo Fernandez of Devereaux, Stokes, Fernandez & Leonard PC in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1722-CC10764