ST. LOUIS – Renal Treatment Centers-Illinois Inc., doing business as St. Louis Dialysis Center, was recently named named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the children of 68-year-old Barbara Brown, who died in 2016 after receiving treatment at the St. Louis nephrology center.
The suit was filed against the dialysis center, which is owned and operated by Davita, on Sept. 21 in the Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis. The company, according to the filing, provides dialysis and other treatments for renal kidney failure.
The filing stated that the dialysis center failed to use proper procedure for inserting the dialysis port, did not properly monitor the fistula site after dialysis, failed to stop the bleeding at the site and did not properly train or supervise their employees who were ultimately responsible for the care and treatment of Brown.
The court documents stated that the defendants “breached their duty” and were guilty of the negligence and carelessness “by failing to measure up to the requisite standard of due care, skill, and practice ordinarily exercised by members of their profession under the same or similar circumstances.”
According to the filing, Brown died as a result of complications that occurred after an Oct. 7, 2016, dialysis treatment after which she experienced “prolonged bleeding of the left AV Fistula (Cannulation site)” in the day after her treatment at the center.
“Defendant failed to carry out post hemodialysis site care which led to prolonged bleeding,” the filing said. The document stated that the defendant discharged Brown and “failed to apply additional treatments to achieve hemostasis."
Brown was transported to the emergency department St. Louis University Hospital later that day and was found to have hemoglobin levels of 2.7. Because of her prolonged bleeding, according to the court document, Brown “went into hypovolemic shock and subsequent cardiac arrest.” She was given “massive blood transfusions” as well as “pressor supports in which she maxed out."
Clayton, Missouri-based Jimerson Law Firm P.C. filed the suit on behalf of Brown’s children, listed as Eulanda Fox, Teri Lovett, Dennis Lovett and Nicole Lovett.