A retired emergency room physician is seeking justice after a medical procedure allegedly went awry, leading to severe health complications. Willie Hawkins filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County on November 15, 2024, against Dr. Andrew Dupont and Memorial Hermann Health System. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of medical malpractice following a botched procedure at Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center.
The case centers around an incident that occurred on November 15, 2022, when Hawkins was admitted to Memorial Hermann for an outpatient procedure to replace a Duopa Tube, which he uses as part of his treatment for Parkinson's disease. According to the petition, Dr. Andrew Dupont performed the procedure but negligently left the old tube inside Hawkins' body. This oversight led to significant health issues for Hawkins, including respiratory distress and atrial fibrillation (A-fib), requiring lifelong heart medication.
Hawkins claims that both Dr. Dupont and Memorial Hermann failed to meet the appropriate standards of care expected from healthcare providers. The lawsuit alleges that their actions were not only negligent but willful and wanton, resulting in serious and permanent injuries to Hawkins. "Defendants’ acts or omissions constitute conscious disregard for the safety and welfare of their patients," states the petition.
In addition to monetary compensation exceeding $200,000 for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and court costs, Hawkins seeks exemplary damages due to what he describes as gross negligence by the defendants. The suit emphasizes that leaving a foreign object inside a patient’s body demonstrates a flagrant disregard for patient safety.
Representing Willie Hawkins are attorneys Taurus Stringfellow and Elizabeth Taylor from Stringfellow Taylor & Associates PLLC. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-80816 in Harris County's 113th Judicial District Court under Judge Chandra Lawson.