Lawsuit filed against Mercy Joplin, anesthetist claims negligence

An Illinois woman who claims she has suffered from persistent pain, suffering and anxiety after an allegedly botched procedure at Mercy Joplin is suing the hospital for negligence.

The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in Newton County Circuit Court by Nadine Bahlawan (DOB 1995), Chicago, Illinois, lists Mercy, anesthetist Michael Watts, Northstar Anesthesia of Missouri, Mercy Clinic and Mercy Primary Care as defendants.

Attorney Katie Elizabeth St. John of the Simon Law Firm of St. Louis detailed her client's version of events in the petition:

On or about April 17, 2023, Plaintiff Nadine Bahlawan (“Plaintiff”) presented to Mercy Hospital Joplin after suffering from increased headaches and inability to sit up following a lumbar puncture procedure. 

On or about April 17, 2023 and into the early morning hours of April 18, 2024, Plaintiff’s health care providers determined she needed a blood patch procedure. On or about April 18, 2023, Defendant Watts performed a blood patch procedure while Plaintiff was in the emergency department. 

Defendant Watts performed the blood patch procedure at L3-L4 using a 10 cm needle. Defendant Watts recorded a loss of resistance depth of 7 cm and injected approximately 20 mL of blood products. 

During and immediately after the blood patch procedure, Plaintiff complained of severe pain. Following the blood patch procedure, Plaintiff was weak, unable to tolerate movement, could not ambulate and reported pain.

Given her new symptoms, Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital for pain control and observation.

On April 18, 2023, at approximately 6:00 AM, Plaintiff underwent a CT scan which revealed blood products in the thecal sac. Plaintiff’s symptoms continued and because she lived alone, she was required to stay at the hospital. 

Plaintiff was hospitalized from April 17, 2023, until her discharge on April 23, 2023. Upon discharge, Plaintiff was told to follow up with her primary care providers and given medications for her pain. 

 

Over the following weeks, Plaintiff’s pain worsened. The pain spread to Plaintiff’s entire back and was debilitating, causing decreased mobility, a loss of ability to sleep, shower, dress herself or feed herself. Plaintiff was unable to continue her educational courses due to the pain. 

Plaintiff also began to suffer from bower and bladder incontinence. In early May, Plaintiff returned to the hospital where she had an MRI of her spine was obtained. Plaintiff was diagnosed with arachnoiditis and advised to travel to Mayo Clinic for further treatment. 

On or about May 3, 2023, Plaintiff presented to Mayo Clinic’s emergency department. There, her imaging was reviewed and confirmed that the findings were consistent with arachnoiditis and was to see neurology for follow up care. 

Plaintiff presented to Mayo Clinic’s neurology department on May 8, 2023. While at Mayo Clinic, it was confirmed her MRI findings were consistent with spinal arachnoiditis following her blood patch procedure on 4/18/2023 with blood products present in the thecal sac. 

Plaintiff also learned that arachnoiditis is a chronic, lifelong condition where she will suffer from intermittent flares and can only treat with symptomatic management. 

Since April 18, 2023, Plaintiff has suffered from persistent, severe and disabling pain, as well as tingling, numbness, weakness, incontinence, neurological problems, loss of mobility, anxiety, depression, and other complications.