J.K. v. 2 Local Community Hospitals

74-year-old female experienced a hemorrhage stroke at home from a ruptured aneurysm diagnosed shortly after arrival to a Local Community Hospital. Preparations were made for an external ventricular drain (EVD) to be placed by a neurosurgeon prior to transfer to a comprehensive stroke center at another Local Community Hospital for endovascular treatment by involved providers at both locations. The EVD kit lacked proper contents, so an EVD was not placed prior to transfer. Due to miscommunication, the EVD wasn’t placed for 5 hours after arrival to hospital number 2. Decedent is survived by her husband and two adult sons.

The case arises out of a wrongful death cause of action which alleges that physicians who treated plaintiff after he underwent a cervical C3-C6 laminectomy and fusion on May 11, 2018.   Thereafter on May 25th, he was noted to be hypotensive, the resuscitation team was called to the bedside, hes was intubated, and after intubation, he was unable to move or feel his arms and legs extremities.    He succumbed to his injuries and died on October 24, 2018 of complications.

Together with Joseph A. Power. Jr.- On April 5, 2000, minor plaintiff age 6, was brought to ophthalmologist in Central Illinois due to visual disturbances. Although Dr. the defendant opthamologist identified various abnormalities during this initial visit, over the next five years, he failed to perform an intraocular eye pressure test or otherwise investigate their cause. As a result, Brianna’s juvenile glaucoma (spherophakia) went undiagnosed and untreated. She suffered optic nerve damage and lost all peripheral vision–and has been rendered legally blind despite multiple surgeries. She also has cystoid macular edema and macular gliosis of the right eye. (2013)

Plaintiff, age 38, was found by his father after a suicide attempt, and was brought to defendant hospital, where he was stabilized. The plan was to transfer the patient to the behavioral unit at another hospital. However, the next morning, June 18, 2019, the patient was left unsupervised in a public bathroom for roughly 15 minutes. He locked the door and placed a garbage bag over his head–and was able to nearly suffocate himself. He sustained brain damage and died on June 23, 2019. (survived by his elderly parents and an adult sibling). Plaintiff alleged the staff and security personnel both violated policies and procedures regarding the monitoring of suicidal patients. This was the second highest reported recovery at the time for a suicide victim. (2020)

Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: The minor Decedent was born with a congenital heart defect. Plaintiffs allege that the Defendant did not obtain their consent before converting a diagnostic procedure to an interventional procedure and negligently elected to place a plug in an attempt to occlude the minor’s collateral vessel. After failing to obtain total occlusion, the Defendant placed a second, larger Plug and caused perforation of the vessel and for the minor Decedent to exsanguinate and die.

E. v. A Local Academic Hospital

This case involved a 75-year-old male who presented for elective, minimally invasive back surgery. Postoperatively, he was provided Gabapentin at alleged improper dosing and experienced confusion and somnolence. His renal functions were not closely followed nor were his input and outtakes. As a result, a respiratory and cardiac arrest occurred due to unrecognized medication and renal effects. The decedent was survived by his wife and three adult children. Co-counsel with Joseph W. Balesteri.

In April 2007, Mr. Power obtained a $3,000,000.00 settlement on behalf of the family of a 15-year-old boy who suffered an asthma attack at home and was brought to a medical care center. While there, the boy’s condition worsened and it took several attempts to intubate him. As a result of the delay, he coded and, ultimately, became comatose, dying four days later. At the time of settlement, this was the largest settlement on behalf of a minor in Will County.

Together with Joseph A. Power, Jr.- March 13, 2002 nursing staff failed to monitor plaintiff age 48, during his hospitalization for meningitis and failed to react to an abnormal pulse oximeter reading, allowing him to die from respiratory compromise due to Dilaudid. JAP

Plaintiff, age 52, suffered from Marfan syndrome, was admitted to defendant healthcare facility for the repair of a descending thoracic aorta aneurysm and placement of a peritoneal shunt. Post-op, she was designated a high fall risk. On July 4, 2015, she was left alone without restraints and suffered a fall that dislodged the shunt and caused a subdural hematoma which required surgery. She has incurred cognitive defects as a result of the injury including word finding, balance, and confusion, and requires 24 hour/day assistance with ADLs. She is no longer able to work as a hospital director of PR. (2016)

F71 presented to Local Community Hospital for purposes of undergoing an anterior diskectomy and fusion surgery at C4-5.  During surgery, brisk bleeding was encountered and Surgiflo, a hemostatic agent, was utilized for bleeding control purposes.  Post-surgery, the patient did not regain consciousness timely and imaging confirmed ischemic stroke injuries to her brain.  Post-mortem exam identified the presence of a foreign substance consistent with Surgiflo in the vasculature preventing blood flow to the injured parts of her brain.  Plaintiff never regained consciousness following surgery; life support was withdrawn and she was pronounced dead five days post-surgery, leaving behind her husband and two adult children.  Plaintiff alleged that Surgiflo was unnecessary and negligently utilized and caused premature death.