The last of six lawsuits against a Jefferson City cardiologist who had been found negligent by the Missouri Board of Healing Hearts for placing stents in patients' coronary arteries that were less than 50 percent blocked was dismissed this week in Cole County Circuit Court.
None of the cases went to trial.
Steven and Deanna Yoder filed a lawsuit against Dr. Randall Meyer and Central Missouri Cardiology in March 2013. The case was dismissed without prejudice and involved personal injury and malpractice. "Without prejudice" means the claims in the lawsuit could be raised in a future lawsuit.
Earlier cases that were dismissed without prejudice included:
• Lyle and Ann Dunning of Fulton filed a case in November 2011 against Meyer, Central Missouri Cardiology and Capital Region Medical Center. That case complained of medical negligence for Meyer's diagnosing Lyle with heart failure and artery blockage in April 2006, and alleging that Meyer performed a total of nine unnecessary cardiac stent placements, follow-ups and additional care over the next two years.
• Mitchell W. Arnold of Tipton filed a lawsuit against Meyer, Central Missouri Cardiology and SSM Regional Health Services in December 2012, complaining of negligence. Between April 5, 2000, and March 2011, Arnold underwent several cardiac stent placements performed by Meyer at St. Mary's Health Center. Arnold claimed all parties involved were negligent with his care and diagnosis and that he did not suffer from coronary artery disease.
Cases dismissed "with prejudice" means the plaintiffs are barred from filing future lawsuits over the same issues.
Earlier cases involving Meyer that were dismissed with prejudice included:
• Walter J. Starr of California who sued Meyer and Central Missouri Cardiology in January 2013. In January 2011, Starr underwent a cardiac intervention procedure performed by Meyer; it involved the placement of two stents in one coronary artery. Starr claimed the cause of his chest pain was not coronary artery disease and his arteries were not blocked.
• Patricia Trinklein of Jefferson City who filed a lawsuit against Meyer, Central Missouri Cardiology and Capital Region Medical Center in October 2012, complaining about negligence. In November 2010, Trinklein underwent surgery performed by Meyer at Capital Region for the placement of two stents in her right coronary artery. Trinklein returned to the hospital the next month, complaining of chest pain and underwent another surgery performed by Meyer. She returned to the hospital again in January 2011, for chest pain, and Meyer recommended she undergo a myocardial profusion, but she said the results of the myocardial profusion showed her chest pain was not due to coronary artery disease.
• Rebecca Watkins, who sued on counts of negligence against Meyer, Central Missouri Cardiology and SSM Regional Health Services in February 2012 after undergoing a surgical cardiac procedure performed by Meyer in February 2010. She claimed she suffered a complication from the surgery, which required another surgery and other procedures and that the cause of the chest pain she suffered was not coronary artery disease.