Woman contends abortion clinic made her sterile

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 8:48 AM CDT

A patient who had an abortion at the Hope Clinic in Granite City is suing the doctor and the facility alleging the procedure was botched and made her infertile, court documents show.

Antoinette Blanton, 20, is seeking $50,000 from the clinic at 1602 21st in Granite City and from Dr. Allen S. Palmer, of Bridgeton, according to a three-page complaint filed May 20 in Third Circuit Court.

The suit contends Palmer "failed to remove the entire fetus" during the procedure in March 2006 and that the resulting infection made Blanton sterile.The case is assigned the Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian.

It's the second lawsuit in as many months filed against the clinic, which opened in 1974.

A four-page complaint filed April 23 alleges a doctor who agreed to perform an abortion on a woman, Brandy Hildreth, of Granite City, was switched out before the procedure without her knowledge. She's also seeking $50,000.

A deposition in the case was held May 16, court documents show.

No court dates have been set in either case.