On March 21, 2025, a Missouri medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit was filed, alleging:
Plaintiff Melvin Carey brings an action for wrongful death due to medical malpractice and loss of chance pursuant to RSMo § 537.080 on behalf of himself and the other persons entitled under RSMo § 537.080(1) to bring an action for the wrongful death of Diana Carey.
On March 20, 2023, decedent Diana Carey presented to Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Jackson County, Missouri, with complaints of left ischemic foot pain, and an ulceration on her left foot.
Decedent Diana Carey was admitted for treatment at Saint Luke’s East Hospital, and on March 21, 2023, Defendant Matthew C. Bunte attempted an urgent left lower extremity angiogram with a planned transcatheter arterialization of the deep vein. The procedure was unsuccessful.
Following the procedure, Decedent Diana Carey’s blood pressure was taken, and was documented as being 150/114.
Despite Decedent’s hypertension, Defendant Michael Ivancic cleared Decedent to be discharged to her floor.
Shortly after being returned from the surgery unit, Decedent had a hypoglycemic episode and became pale and confused.
Hospital staff found Decedent to be diaphoretic, hypertensive, and tachycardic, and transferred Decedent to the Intensive Care Unit.
By the time Decedent reached the Intensive Care Unit, Decedent was in acute respiratory distress, and she was intubated, sedated, and placed on mechanical ventilation.
A CT scan of Decedent’s abdomen confirmed a bowel perforation at the proximal sigmoid colon region, and suspected bowel ischemia.
On March 22, 2023, Defendant Saint Luke’s Health System’s Palliative Medicine physicians determined that Decedent Diana Carey was not a candidate for surgical intervention of the bowel perforation.
Defendant Saint Luke’s Health System continued to provide supportive treatment to Decedent until March 24, 2023, when Decedent was extubated and passed away at approximately 1:19 a.m.
Defendants individually and collectively had a duty to possess and use that degree of skill and learning ordinarily used under the same or similar circumstances by members of their profession in the care and treatment of Decedent, and, during the course of their treatment of Decedent, Defendants breached this duty and were negligent by:
a. Perforating Decedent’s bowel;
b. Failing to diagnose Decedent’s post-operative hypertension;
c. Failing to timely recognize Decedent’s hypertension and hypoglycemia;
d. Failing to follow policies/procedures off the hospital/institution;
e. Failing to prevent Decedent’s death;
f. Failing to have proper policies and procedures in place to prevent the negligent care at issue;
g. Other various and sundry respects that are presently unknown to Plaintiff, but that Plaintiff verily believes will be revealed during the discovery process.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment on Count I in his favor, for such sums as are fair and reasonable in excess of $25,000.00, together with his costs incurred and expended and for such other relief as this Court deems just and proper.
If you or a loved one may have been injured due to medical negligence in Missouri or in another U.S. state, you should promptly consult with a Missouri medical malpractice attorney (or a medical malpractice attorney in your state) who may investigate your possible malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a medical negligence case, if appropriate.
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