PRINCETON — A Princeton woman is suing a physician and her practice after she claims the doctor breached the standard of care and caused her severe injuries.
Dr. Lori Ann Tucker and Lori Tucker DO PLLC were named as defendants in the suit.
On Jan. 31, 2017, Teresa G. Holt was admitted to Princeton Community Hospital to undergo a previously-scheduled surgery by Tucker, according to a complaint filed in Mercer Circuit Court.
Holt was to have a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal trachelectomy and she was previously evaluated by Tucker and diagnosed with a high-grade glandular intraepithelial lesion after she had an abnormal pap smear.
Despite evaluating her, Tucker never addressed Holt's past cervical history or discussed her cell makeup with her, according to the suit.
Holt claims Tucker also did not perform a pre-operative pelvic examination on her and did not perform any pre-operative exploration for the possible presence of adhesions.
After the 2017 procedure, Tucker noted that Holt was in "excellent condition" when she was taken to recovery and she was discharged two days later, according to the suit.
Holt claims she went to the hospital's emergency department on Feb. 11, 2017, with complaints of pelvic pressure and passing fully-formed stool through her vagina.
The plaintiff was admitted to the hospital and imaging studies were conducted on her pelvis that confirmed she had developed a retrovaginal fistula. She underwent surgery on Feb. 14, 2017, to repair the fistula, according to the suit.
Holt claims Tucker was present in the operating room for the surgery and later admitted her error and apologized to Holt for having her injuries.
Tucker breached the applicable standard of care and caused Holt's injuries, according to the suit.
Holt is seeking compnesatory damages. She is represented by Brian J. Headley and Jason S. Ballard of Headley Ballard.
Mercer Circuit Court Case number: 19-C-71