A wrongful death lawsuit accuses a Louisiana gastroenterologist of perforating a patient's colon, which allegedly caused the patient to develop leukemia.
Paulette T. Peters, Mark D. Peters, and Keeley K. Peters on behalf of Alfred Marks Peters filed suit against Robert A. Hammer, M.D. on Oct. 28 in Orleans Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Dec. 1.
According to the complaint, Alfred Marks had a colonoscopy at TUHC in Orleans Parish on May 7, 2010. During the procedure, Dr. Hammer allegedly perforated Marks' colon.
Marks underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage. He claims he developed an intra-abdominal abscess that required the placement of a percutaneous drainage catheter with a large drainage bag.
Dr. Hammer is accused of failing to manage the drainage catheter, which suppressed Mark's immune system and led to the development of leukemia. Marks died on Oct. 31, 2011, the suit claims.
The plaintiffs are represented by Slidell attorney Glyn J. Godwin.
U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:11-cv-02961
Patient's perforated colon led to the development of leukemia, suit claims
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