KANSAS CITY — A Kansas woman who underwent a shoulder surgery at a Missouri clinic is suing the medical group and the doctor alleging they acted negligently.
Dolores Fitzsimmons filed a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Feb. 19 against Freeman Health System, Freeman Health System Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Dr. Todd Twiss.
Fitzsimmons sued Freeman Health and Dr. Twiss on claims they acted negligently during a surgery she had had to repair a torn shoulder at the clinic's Joplin location.
She claims the clinic committed deviations from the standard of medical care, including failure to properly diagnose the patient, and to appropriately perform the surgery.
According to the complaint, the "plaintiff presented to defendant Todd Twiss, M.D., at Freeman Surgical Center located at 811 West 35th Street, Joplin, MO 64804, on Feb. 21, 2017, for surgical repair of a right shoulder rotator cuff tear." The doctor "performed an arthroscopic right rotator cuff tear, double row repair of the subscapularis and supraspinatus, and a debridement of the extensive glenohumeral joint."
After the surgery, Fitzsimmons experienced pain while moving the shoulder, and went back to the clinic.
"Post-operative x-rays were taken on the operative shoulder on May 19, 2017. The most medial screw demonstrated protrusion through the humeral head into the glenohumeral joint space. On Jun. 8, 2017, Plaintiff presented back to Defendant Todd Twiss, M.D., at Freeman Surgical Center to remove a 'loose body right shoulder.' Defendant Todd Twiss, M.D., performed an arthroscopic loose body removal and arthroscopic lysis of adhesions, intra and extraarticular. Since the operation, plaintiff continues to have difficulty with pain and range of motion," the complaint said.
Fitzsimmons is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, plus fees and costs, as well as expenses and other relief that the court deems just and equitable.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Roland P. Pope of Ralston, Pope & Diehl LLC of Topeka, Kan. No judge has been assigned to the case yet.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri Case number 3:19-cv-05009-BP