In a dramatic legal move, a Pinellas County resident has filed a lawsuit against a prominent medical doctor and two healthcare facilities, alleging severe medical negligence. Jillian Phillips lodged the complaint on November 12, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, targeting Dr. Kevin Lamar Powell and the Tarpon Springs Hospital Foundation, Inc., which operates under the names AdventHealth North Pinellas and AdventHealth Medical Group.
The case revolves around allegations of medical malpractice that began with Phillips' admission to AdventHealth North Pinellas on May 28, 2023. She was diagnosed with symptomatic cholelithiasis and early acute cholecystitis by Dr. Powell and his team. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed but allegedly resulted in complications leading to further hospitalizations and surgeries. According to the complaint, these included extensive procedures at AdventHealth Tampa due to severe abdominal pain and subsequent diagnoses of liver abscesses and sepsis.
Phillips claims that Dr. Powell failed to perform critical aspects of her surgery properly, including obtaining a "critical view of safety," which led to an uncontrolled bile leak. The lawsuit accuses him of failing to interpret radiological films correctly and not recognizing or treating her symptoms timely post-surgery. The plaintiff's attorney argues that these deviations from professional standards have caused permanent injuries requiring ongoing medical care.
Furthermore, Phillips holds both AdventHealth North Pinellas and AdventHealth Medical Group accountable for their roles in her treatment. The institutions are accused of vicarious liability for Dr. Powell's actions as well as direct negligence in hiring, training, supervising, and retaining their staff adequately. They are charged with failing to provide care within prevailing professional standards as defined by Florida law.
Phillips is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for bodily injuries, mental anguish, loss of life enjoyment capacity, disfigurement, scarring, past and future medical expenses including hospitalizations and surgeries, along with potential loss of future earnings capability due to these alleged negligent acts.
Representing Jillian Phillips is Singha Law Group based in St. Petersburg, Florida. No specific judge has been assigned yet to oversee this case filed under Case Number: 24-004967-CI.