Raleigh woman says doctor's misdiagnosis caused 4-year-old son's death

CHARLESTON - A Raleigh County woman has filed a suit against a physician who treated her 4-year-old son, claiming the doctor failed to diagnose him properly, which ultimately caused his death.

Stephanie Lambert filed the suit May 6 in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of her son, Hunter S. Lambert. The suit is against Southeastern Emergency Physicians Inc. and Kenneth Dowler, D.O.

Southeastern does business as TeamHealth MidSouth.

According to the suit, Hunter Lambert went to Raleigh General Hospital on Dec. 14, 2006, with complaints of a fever, vomiting and neck pain.

"Despite signs and symptoms indicative of meningitis, emergency room physician Kenneth Dowler, D.O. failed to order a lumbar puncture to investigate the signs and symptoms and discharge the patient home later that morning," the suit says.

Later that afternoon, Lambert returned to the emergency room by ambulance. According to the suit, his skin had mottled and he had purpura covering his torso and extremities. He was also shaking, unable to urinate and was unable to see. He also developed bradycardia.

According to the suit, cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead.

Stephanie Lambert claims Dowler owed a duty of care to her son, which he did not provide. She claims she suffered sorrow, mental anguish and solace; loss of services, protection, care and assistance of her son; expenses for the care, treatment and hospitalization; funeral expenses and other non-economic damages.

Stephanie Lambert seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney C. Benjamin Salango is representing Lambert. The case has been assigned to Judge Irene Berger.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-880