Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: (2022 – Cook County) The 59 YO patient presented to an outpatient Advocate Clinic with signs and symptoms of an upper respiratory infection and an abnormal pulmonary exam noting “mild congestion bilaterally.” The patient was noted to have spent time with her father in a nursing home who had recently tested positive for MRSA. The patient was given a prescription for Azithromycin, an antibiotic that does not cover MRSA. Two days later, she presented to South Suburban Hospital with signs of an advanced pneumonia, which was later confirmed to be a MRSA pneumonia. Plaintiff argued that the abnormal pulmonary exam was indicative of a lower respiratory infection and necessitated the ordering of an x-ray to rule out PNA and that an antibiotic effective against MRSA had to be given. Advocate argued that MRSA-PNA is exceedingly rare and that Azithromycin is an antibiotic that covers the most common bacterial pneumonia agents. The patient was survived by her husband, who passed away 5 years later, and three adult sons.

Z. v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Medical Malpractice: This involved a 69 year old former attorney who went into Northwestern Memorial Hospital on June 1, 1995 for triple bypass surgery. On June 4, 1995, his chest tube was removed which resulted in a pneumothorax. This pneumothorax resulted in him becoming short of breath and eventually led to a cardiac arrest and brain damage. The defense claimed his injuries were from a heart attack from his underlying cardiac disease.

Medical Malpractice: 11 year-old girl being treated for cardiac rhythm disturbances suffered an arrhythmia while showering at home and passed away on April 29, 1994. Defendants University of Chicago Hospitals and Dr. J. Deane Waldman failed to address Amy’s condition with appropriate medication and failed to provide Amy, through her family, with information and recommendation of an implantable cardiac defibrillator during the 18 months she was under their care.

Medical Malpractice: 37 year old female had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. During the procedure her bladder was perforated resulting in infection. The infection was not diagnosed and she was discharged. She re-presented to Illinois Masonic for further care in a comatose state. The infection became necrotizing resulting in loss of lower abdominal skin, muscle and tissue and numerous surgical interventions.

R. vs. Christ Hospital, et al.

Medical Malpractice: 53 year old female was transferred by helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center from another institution after being involved in an automobile accident. About two and a half hours after arrival she suffered a respiratory arrest followed by a cardiac arrest. Her chest cavity injuries should have been treated by elective chest tube insertion and intubation to avoid possible respiratory deterioration. She suffered permanent severe brain damage and the need for 24 hour care over her lifetime due to these failures.

Bacterial infection contracted during surgery that went undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in multiple revision surgeries and a lifetime of antibiotic treatment causing progressive hearing loss and renal damage.

Bacterial infection contracted during surgery that went undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in multiple revision surgeries and a lifetime of antibiotic treatment causing progressive hearing loss and renal damage.

Medical Malpractice: 39 year old female with a history of Chrohn’s Disease underwent exploratory surgery for a suspected small bowel obstruction and a bowel resection. Defendants failed to diagnose and treat post-operative bleeding in her peritoneal cavity leading to her death.

40-year-old female delivered twins at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on February 13, 2014. Despite evidence of lower extremity clotting and high-risk status for DVT development, no therapeutic anticoagulation was initiated, nor was a lower extremity venous doppler performed. Additionally, telemetry monitoring previously in place for post-partum cardiomyopathy risks was prematurely discontinued on February 21, 2014. The decedent experienced pulmonary embolism from her lower extremities, cardiopulmonary arrest and was pronounced dead on February 22, 2014 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The decedent was survived by her husband and newborn twins.

V. v. Lutheran General Hospital

Birth Injury/Medical Malpractice: On March 10, 2004, Plaintiff was pregnant with her first child. Plaintiff presented to the emergency room at Lutheran General Hospital at approximately 6:00am due to the onset of active labor. Her daughter’s gestational age was 40 weeks and 5 days. Her daughter was delivered vaginally via vacuum extraction at 3:31pm by Isabel Gomez, M.D. Upon delivery, the baby was noted to have several serious health issues, namely the presence of meconium; neonatal depression; hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and seizure disorder. The baby spent three weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit before being discharged. Her daughter sustained a brain injury. As a result of her brain injury, Plaintiff’s daughter has speech problems; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; deficits in fine motor and gross motor skills necessitating braces (AFO) for walking.