Woman says doctor performed unnecessary spinal tap

CHARLESTON – A local woman claims a physician at St. Francis Hospital performed an unnecessary spinal tap on her, which has caused nerve damage and other injuries.

Tina Machuca filed a lawsuit March 27 against Dr. Sheryl Lynn Saul, of South Point, Ohio.

Machuca claims she went to the St. Francis emergency room on Jan. 1, 2007, with complaints of a headache, cough and stiff neck.

Saul was the physician on duty, the complaint says.

Saul then performed a spinal tap on Machuca, causing injuries. The complaint says Saul should have requested that a more qualified physician perform the procedure.

Early on Jan. 2, Machuca says she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection and a headache and was discharged.

She's seeking compensatory damages.

R. Edison Hill is representing the plaintiff. The case is before Kanawha Circuit Judge Louis Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-552