Patient sues hospital, doctors claiming misdiagnosis led to unnecessary spinal surgery

GRETNA – A local hospital and a group of doctors are being sued for allegedly misdiagnosing the source of man’s leg weakness and performing a spinal surgery on him when other less invasive options should have been available.

Phyllis Price Thurston and John L. Thurston filed suit against Louis J. Provenza, Richard J. Schunior, Laurie Bishop and Ochsner Clinic Foundation in the 24th Judicial District Court on March 5.

Thurston claims her husband began experiencing leg weakness and subsequent falls in April 2011 for which he underwent an MRI of his lumbar spine and was told he would need to undergo spinal surgery to correct the problem which was undertaken on May 24, 2011. However, the plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to properly examine her husband and at no time did they properly diagnose a syrinx, a fluid filled cavity in his spinal cord, that was actually the cause of his weakness and other symptoms.

Thurston contends that had her husband been properly diagnosed the surgery may have been prevented and he would have been eligible for other more appropriate treatments. Subsequent to the spinal surgery the plaintiff alleges that Thurston has suffered severe side effects including incontinence, numberless and muscle loss in his legs, inability to walk unassisted, discomfort, pain and loss of feeling in his legs.

The defendant is accused of medical malpractice.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought by the plaintiffs.

Thurston is represented by Daniel J. Mackel Jr.

The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Stephen C. Grefer.

Case no. 747-374.