A Jefferson County man and his wife are suing two Houston doctors and the hospitals they're associated with, alleging medical malpractice.
Robert and Darla Daigle filed a lawsuit on May 27 in Jefferson County District Court against Dr. John Schmidt, Dr. Amy Townsend, Quantam Hospital Medicine Services of Texas, Team Health Inc. and Christus Hospital-St. Mary, alleging malpractice and gross negligence.
According to the complaint, in December 2013, Robert Daigle visited Christus Hospital-St. Mary in Port Arthur, complaining of upper quadrant pain. An ultrasound revealed that Daigle had a 1.1-centimeter gallstone near the neck of his gallbladder, the suit says, and Dr. Townsend was assigned to his care.
On Dec. 31, 2013, the suit says, Dr. Schmidt attempted to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove the gallbladder but he alleged that the surgery was unsuccessful due to “abdominal adhesions” from an abdominal surgery Robert Daigle had previously undergone.
Following the first surgery performed by Schmidt, Robert Daigle alleges his condition deteriorated and a A CT scan revealed a perforation, or hole, in his s small intestine. On Jan.7 , 2014, Schmidt performed a second surgery.
According to the lawsuit, both Schmidt and Townsend failed to take further medical action after a second CT scan showed Robert Daigle’s small intestine had been perforated during the initial operation and that these unrepaired perforations were still leaking after the second surgery.
The plaintiffs allege that due to the acts and omissions of the defendants, Robert Daigle suffered a permanent and irreparable injury.
The Daigles seek monetary relief of more than $1 million, plus court costs. They are represented by attorney Jack E. McGehee of McGehee, Chang, Barnes and Landgraf in Houston.
Jefferson County District Court case number D-197153.