State ex rel. Racer v. Richardson

SEILER, Judge.

Relators originally brought an action as plaintiffs against defendant Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital and its insurer, St. Paul Insurance Company, among others, for injuries allegedly sustained by Mrs. Racer while under a general anesthetic during a surgical procedure known as a dilation and curretage, performed in this instance to stop excessive and abnormal uterine bleeding. During the course of the operation, an electrocautery unit ignited a sponge which was being used to keep the cervix free of blood. The operating physician threw the burning sponge to the side and…