A Jefferson County woman has filed suit against Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital, Women's Center of Beaumont and a doctor, alleging her infant daughter suffered paralysis of one of her arms because of the doctor's negligence during her birth.
Tangelia Thomas claims she went to Baptist Hospital and Women's Center to deliver her daughter, Chaslynn Thomas, on Jan. 28, 2008.
However, during Chaslynn's birth, she suffered from a brachial plexus injury, which occurs when the head is pulled up and the shoulder pulled down causing nerve injury, according to the complaint filed Jan. 27 in Jefferson County District Court. The brachial plexus injury led to Erb's Palsey, which is paralysis of the arm, the suit states.
"Her (Chaslynn Thomas') physical and mental condition has been caused to deteriorate generally and will in all reasonable probability cause her to suffer the consequences and ill effects of this deterioration for a long time in the future, if not for the balance of her life," the complaint says.
In addition, her mother incurred medical costs, according to the complaint.
Tangelia Thomas blames her daughter's injuries on the defending medical centers and Dr. Kevin Ray Waddell, saying they failed to provide reasonable medical care, failed to exercise the required degree of skill required by a medical practitioner, failed to maintain an appropriate standard of care by allowing inadequately experienced interns to attend to Tangelia Thomas' care and failed to intervene when inadequate care was being provided.
Tangelia Thomas is seeking a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus post-judgment interest, costs and other relief to which she may be entitled.
Brian D. Sutton, Joseph N. Jannise Jr., Stephanie H. Harris and Matthew J. Riley of Sutton and Jacobs in Beaumont will be representing her.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: E185-810.