ST. LOUIS (CN) - St. Louis University doctors mixed up their patients and did the wrong surgery on one man's spine, the man claims in City Court. Leon Arnold and his wife sued the university, Tenet Health Systems, and Dr. Kenneth Smith Jr.
"On or about September 18, 2003, defendant Dr. Smith diagnosed that plaintiff was suffering from herniated discs at L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5, as well as stenosis at L3-4," the complaint states. "At that time, defendant Smith offered to perform a laminectomy at L3-4, combined with disectomies at L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5.
"On or about October 1, 2003, defendant Dr. Smith and resident physicians Daniel White, MD and Dr. Brown performed an operation on plaintiff which included laminectomies at L2, L3, L4, L5 and S1 with microforaminotomies bilaterally and a microdisectomy at L2-3."
Arnold says the defendants confused him with another patient and performed unnecessary operations, incorrect ones, without his consent.
He seeks punitive damages for more than $100,000 in medical bills, neurologic damage to his spine, paralysis and weakness in his lower extremities and severe pain. He is represented by Leonard Cervantes.
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