A Woman's Place sued over alleged medical neglect, destruction of records

NEW ORLEANS – A former patient is suing an OB/GYN group and its nurse practitioners for alleged medical malpractice.

Tierra Dearmas filed suit against A Woman's Place, Tamla Pierre, Brandi Gray and three unknown insurance companies in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on May 23.

Dearmas claims that between May 2010 and April 2013, she made several visits to A Woman's Place seeking treatment for pelvic pain, abdominal pain, contraceptives and/or abnormal vaginal bleeding. The plaintiff asserts that the only services provided to her by nurse practitioners Tamla Pierre and Brandi Gray were evaluations for birth control and sexually transmitted diseases, and/or a pap-smear exam.

The suit states that A Woman's Place received ominous lab results concerning the plaintiff in May 2011, December 2011 and February 2013. The findings allegedly included abnormal pap-smears.

Dearmas claims that Pierre and Gray neglected to notify her of these lab results in a timely fashion.

In an effort to pursue further medical evaluation and treatment, Dearmas alleges that she requested a copy of her medical records in April 2013. The plaintiff further asserts that Pierre refused to provide the documents necessary.

Dearmas claims that Pierre altered, forged, or destroyed Dearmas' medical records.

According to the complaint, Dearmas was not provided with follow-up pap-smears, referred for colposcopy treatment, given a pelvic exam, referred for an X-ray, CT scan, ultrasound,  MRI or properly notified and provided with accurate medical records.

The plaintiff contends that her allegedly accelerated cervical condition to CIN1, significantly enlarged fibroid tumors and significantly enlarged ovarian cysts were a direct result of negligence on the part of Pierre and Gray.

The defendants are accused of medical negligence.

The plaintiff seeks over $75,000 in damages for past and present pain and suffering, extreme mental and emotional sorrow and anguish, lifelong physical injuries, lost chance of obtaining timely medical treatment, the cost of further operations and medical procedures to recover her health given the circumstances and court costs.

Dearmas is represented by attorney Charlotte M. Washington.

The case has been assigned to District C Judge Sidney H. Cates IV.

Case no. 2014-05145.