Med-mal brought against Dr. Spiegel

Beaumont local Carolyn Guillory has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Felix Spiegel and University General Hospital.

The suit was filed Nov. 27 in Jefferson County District Court.

According to his website, Dr. Spiegel has performed an estimated 10,000 laparoscopic, minimally invasive surgical weight-loss procedures and is one of the more experienced weight-loss surgeons in the world. The site says he is certified by the American Board of Surgery, is a fellow of the American College of Surgery and has been designated a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

"Dr. Spiegel has also mastered revisions and reversals to allow patients a second chance at permanent weight loss if your first procedure did not fit your lifestyle," the site states.

According to the lawsuit, on Nov. 29, 2011, Guillory, 62, sought treatment from the defendants. Dr. Spiegel performed a revision of Nissen’s fundolplication gastric procedure; repair of sliding hiatal hernia and extensive lysis of adhesions.

Nissen's fundoplication is a surgical procedure to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia.

A couple of months after the surgery, Guillory again began experiencing gastroesophageal reflux. Eventually, a different physician had to perform corrective surgery, according to the suit.

“Dr. Spiegel’s failure to perform the proper procedure and diagnose the cause of Ms. Guillory’s pain and discomfort was below the standard of care,” the suit states.

On top of exemplary damages, the plaintiff is suing for her past and future pain, mental anguish and medical expenses in an amount not to exceed $1 million.

She is represented by Beaumont attorney Brian Sutton of Sutton & Jacobs.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. E195-009