A malpractice lawsuit filed May 27 in Newton County Circuit Court claims doctors at Mercy Joplin misdiagnosed the source of a 15-year-old girl's pain, failed to recognize appendicitis and when they finally found the problem failed to remove the entire appendix, creating even more problems.
Listed as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed by Kyle Foltz, the father of O. F., in addition to Mercy Joplin are John Coleman, M. D., and William Birsic, M. D.
From the petition:
On April 24, 2023, O.F. was referred to the emergency department to rule out appendicitis after being seen at Urgent Care and noting some abdominal tenderness on physical exam.On April 24, 2023, at 7:29 p.m., O.F. arrived at the emergency department of Joplin Mercy complaining of abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Tachycardia was present.
O.F. was seen in the emergency department of Joplin Mercy by Defendant Dr. Coleman. Dr. Coleman ordered a blood and urine test. Blood and urine test were obtained and discussed with Plaintiff. No CT scan was ordered by Defendant Dr. Coleman. O.F. was diagnosed with a UTI, discharged home, and prescribed medication ordered by Defendant Dr. Coleman.
On May 14, 2023, at 8:53, O.F. returned to the emergency department of Joplin Mercy complaining of right sided abdominal pain. Defendant Dr. Coleman ordered a CT scan. The CT scan showed acute perforated appendicitis with sinus tract and multilobulated abscess in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.
Defendant Dr. Birsic examined O.F. in the emergency department and made a plan to take O.F. to surgery for a laparoscopic appendectomy. Defendant Dr. Birsic completed the appendectomy on May 14, 2023, and noted that the appendix had perforated and created abscess cavity against the terminal ileum.
Defendant Dr. Birsic discharged O.F. from Joplin Mercy on May 18, 2023, prescribing oral medication for O.F. On May 28, 2023, at 23:53 O.F. returned to the emergency department of Joplin Mercy being unable to eat since the surgery on May 18, 2023, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
O.F. was transferred to Children’s Mercy Main Campus in Kansas City, Missouri on May 29, 2023, where she was diagnosed with a pelvic abscess. O.F. was discharged on June 4, 2023, after non-operative management and was to subsequently to complete an additional 7 days of oral antibiotics for the pelvic abscess.
On June 16, 2023, O.F. returned to the emergency department of Joplin Mercy with abdominal pain and vomiting. CT scan was performed suggesting small bowel obstruction and O.F. was transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
On June 17, 2023, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed on O.F. with findings of an adhesive band in mid ileum which was lysed. O.F. was discharged from Children’s Mercy Hospital on June 18, 2023.
On October 21, 2023, O.F. underwent a completion of appendectomy at the Children’s Mercy Hospital. Several centimeters of residual appendix was located in O.F.’s body. In November 2023, O.F. underwent upper and lower endoscopy which revealed acute inflammation in the ileocecal area.
O.F. had recurrent symptoms continue over several months and at times would resolve. O.F. underwent a laparoscopic ileocecectomy at Children’s Mercy Hospital on January 5, 2024. She was discharged from Children’s Mercy Hospital on January 9,2024.
Foltz is asking for damages for his daughter's suffering and costs.
He is represented by Shelley Dreyer of Dreyer & Tinney, Joplin.
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