County Could Pay $24 Million To Settle Medical Malpractice Cases
From the Chicago Tribune
Taxpayers could end up footing a $24 million bill to settle medical malpractice cases filed against Cook County's public health system, including one filed by the family of a toddler left with irreversible brain damage after a common surgery.
Most of the money — $20 million — would be paid out in the lawsuit brought by Justine Francique, whose now 3-year-old son Keith was left with severe, irreversible brain damage after he suffered cardiac arrest following surgery to repair an undescended testicle at Stroger Hospital, county officials said.
The boy was recovering from surgery in December 2011 when medical personnel did not initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation until five minutes after his heart stopped, according to court documents.
The child was revived, but no pulse was detected for at least 15 minutes, the documents state. As a result of the heart attack and oxygen deprivation, he suffered permanent brain injury, according to the documents.
The settlement is structured to ensure that the boy has enough money to obtain adequate care for the rest of his life, county officials said.
The proposed settlement and three others, all filed against Stroger Hospital, are set for a Tuesday vote by the Cook County Board. If approved, they would be covered with taxpayer money placed into a self-insurance fund.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
Taxpayers could end up footing a $24 million bill to settle medical malpractice cases filed against Cook County's public health system, including one filed by the family of a toddler left with irreversible brain damage after a common surgery.
Most of the money — $20 million — would be paid out in the lawsuit brought by Justine Francique, whose now 3-year-old son Keith was left with severe, irreversible brain damage after he suffered cardiac arrest following surgery to repair an undescended testicle at Stroger Hospital, county officials said.
The boy was recovering from surgery in December 2011 when medical personnel did not initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation until five minutes after his heart stopped, according to court documents.
The child was revived, but no pulse was detected for at least 15 minutes, the documents state. As a result of the heart attack and oxygen deprivation, he suffered permanent brain injury, according to the documents.
The settlement is structured to ensure that the boy has enough money to obtain adequate care for the rest of his life, county officials said.
The proposed settlement and three others, all filed against Stroger Hospital, are set for a Tuesday vote by the Cook County Board. If approved, they would be covered with taxpayer money placed into a self-insurance fund.
Read more in our daily News Update...