The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

October 7, 2008

Patient suing practice over knee operation

By Jeff Lehr

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

Jurors began hearing testimony Tuesday in the trial of a Webb City woman’s malpractice claim against Midwest Orthopaedic Surgery Inc. of Joplin.

Rebecca Adkins, 53, an office manager at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital in Carthage, is seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses and loss of earnings because of what she alleges was a botched knee-replacement surgery performed in 2003 by Dr. David Black.

Jurors were selected Monday for the trial that is expected to wrap up by Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin, with Judge David Mouton presiding.

The plaintiff alleges that Black performed a total knee replacement on her when she had a partial knee infection, leading to the necessity for several additional surgeries, including second and third total knee replacements at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Her attorney, Glenn Gulick, told jurors during opening statements that a partial knee infection is an “absolute contraindication” for total joint surgery, that Black failed to rule out the possibility of an infection before surgery, and that he exacerbated the infection by replacing Adkins’ knee with an artificial metal one. The alleged negligence forced Adkins to endure seven major surgeries in all, 56 days in hospitals and 106 days with no knee at all, Gulick said.

Kent Hyde, attorney for Midwest Orthopaedic Surgery, argued that Adkins wanted the total knee replacement, and that Black did nothing wrong in performing the surgery when he did. He said testimony will show that there was no indication of an infection in her knee before the surgery in 2003, and that when she came back with pain after the operation and the knee had to be taken back out, she had “a different bug entirely,” a risk in any surgery of that type.

Hyde told jurors that Adkins was satisfied the entire time she was under Black’s care, and that he referred her to the Mayo Clinic because of the persistence of her knee problems despite his best efforts and not any negligence on his part.

“She’s just got a bad knee,” Hyde said. “She’s had it operated on multiple times.”

Black is not being sued individually by the plaintiff but is acting as corporate representative of Midwest Orthopaedic Surgery in the trial.

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011

Facebook
Poll

Will the state’s decision not to help fund individual storm shelters following the May 22 tornado keep you from building one?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Facebook
Poll

Will the state’s decision not to help fund individual storm shelters following the May 22 tornado keep you from building one?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
NDN Video
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy? Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
House Ads