Alexander v. State, Dept. of Health & Hospitals

1, WOODARD, Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment granting plaintiffs damages for a medical malpractice claim.

*13FACTS

On December 4, 1988, Rita Alexander was treated at the emergency room of the Lafayette University Medical Center for complaints of chills, fever, vomiting, and weakness. Her spleen had been removed, which reduced the effectiveness of her immune system and increased the risk of bacterial infection. Dr. Charles Prejean, her treating physician, was aware that her spleen had been removed, but he diagnosed her malady as acute viral illness because her symptoms were consistent with…