Articles Posted in Misdiagnosis

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Ms. Doe, age 36, experienced chronic pelvic pain. She consulted with Dr. Roe, a gynecologist, who allegedly diagnosed Stage II endometriosis. Dr. Roe performed a laparoscopic hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Five days after that surgery, Ms. Doe went to Dr. Roe’s office complaining of nausea, vomiting, fever and decreased voiding. Dr. Roe, it was alleged, did not order imaging.

That same night, Ms. Doe went to a hospital’s ER where she was diagnosed as having fluid in her abdomen, hydronephrosis and acute kidney failure. Ms. Doe underwent urgent surgery to treat her injured ureters and bladder. She suffered complications following the surgery, including a fistula, kidney infections, recurrent UTIs and lost bladder sensation.

Ms. Doe sued Dr. Roe, alleging that the doctor had transected one of her ureters and obstructed the other during the hysterectomy. Ms. Doe also alleged that her bladder had been injured during the surgery.
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Michael Davis consulted a nurse practitioner at CHI St. Alexius Health Williston when he experienced flu-like symptoms. A blood test showed an elevated white blood cell count. Eight months later, he returned to the nurse practitioner, complaining of frothy urine. Blood testing showed again an elevated white cell count and protein or blood in his urine.

The nurse practitioner referred Davis to a urologist. The urologist was alleged to have found no urological explanation for the abnormal test results.

About six months later, the follow-up appointment with the nurse practitioner and testing showed that the level of blood and protein in Davis’s urine had tripled. A urologist again allegedly determined there was no urological explanation for those results.
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Matthew Rossignol, a combat veteran and a father of three, underwent an annual test at the Harry Truman Veterans Administration Hospital. The test results showed that he had an eGFR of 72.7. An eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a measure of how well the kidneys are functioning. The eGFR is an estimated number based on blood tests and considers age, gender and body type.

After this test was conducted and measured 72.7, in the following year after additional testing, Rossignol allegedly received a letter from the VA stating that he was being approved for further renal evaluation and that he should avoid taking NASIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and he should return for follow-up testing in six months. His eGFR fell to 4.1 approximately six years later.

Rossignol’s creatinine levels rose to 13.59. A normal creatinine blood test result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL (61.9 to 114.9 µmol/L) for men. Nevertheless, the VA nurse practitioner did not discontinue Naproxen, an anti-inflammatory drug harmful to kidneys, for another full year.
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The defendants, Gregg Coccaro, M.D., and Associated Saint James Radiologist, S.C., appealed from the $6.5 million jury verdict in this medical malpractice lawsuit. The appeal raised the following two issues:

(1) Did the trial court abuse its discretion in making a series of rulings related to evidence, argument and instruction that unfairly prejudiced defendants and thus warranted a new trial; and

(2) Did the trial court err in awarding prejudgment interest because the General Assembly’s 2021 amendment mandating prejudgment interest in personal injury and wrongful death cases (735 ILCS 5/2-1303(c) (West Supp. 2021)) violated the Illinois constitution?
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Jennifer Schlutt, 26, was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma of the distal urethra or periurethral area.

She underwent a course of radiotherapy treatment, including external beam radiotherapy and the placement of an implant.

During this radiation treatment, which lasted approximately six weeks, Schlutt suffered a severe reaction. She complained to her treating radiation oncologist, Dr. David Hornback, that she was experiencing extreme pain, open wounds, an internal burning sensation and skin hardening.

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With several other physicians, cardiologist Dr. Roy Venzon attended to Laura Staib, 39. While she was in the hospital, Staib was diagnosed as having congestive heart failure, pneumonia and sepsis. She remained hospitalized until she was transferred to a long-term care facility the following month. Four days after that transfer, Staib died. She was survived by her husband and two minor children.

The Staib family sued Dr. Venzon and his practice, alleging that he chose not to properly diagnose her cardiac condition and should have prevented her transfer to the long-term care facility until she received a proper workup.

The Staib family attorneys argued that in light of Staib’s worsening condition, Dr. Venzon, the cardiologist, should have done more to determine the cause of her heart failure. The Staib family attorneys argued that a virus attacked her heart, which was the cause of her untimely death.
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Mr. Doe, age 51, fell at home and injured his back. He went to an urgent care facility, complaining of back pain that did not improve with medication or application of cold or heat.

At the time, Mr. Doe did not complain of numbness and tingling. A doctor diagnosed thoracic back pain and prescribed Ibuprofen and physical therapy.

Two weeks later, Mr. Doe went to his first physical therapy appointment and reported that he had been unable to lie down because of severe pain. The treating physical therapist sent him back to the urgent care facility to be examined.
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Elizabeth Njinga suffered from back pain for a long period of time. She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Alexiades. The doctor reviewed her x-rays and ordered an MRI.

Dr. Alexiades told Njinga that she had moderate degenerative changes in her hip and that her pain was coming from her hip and her back. The doctor recommended a hip replacement for pain relief.

After undergoing that surgery, Njinga experienced continued pain. Her relationship with her husband has been affected, and she is unable to travel extensively as she once did because of her condition.
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Ms. Doe underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy that was performed by Dr. Roe, an obstetrician; she was discharged the same day.

She contacted the doctor’s office over the next few days, complaining that she felt ill and was experiencing pain. Four days after the surgery, Doe went to a hospital emergency room where a CT scan showed an accumulation of fluid in her pelvis. Surgery located a hole in Doe’s sigmoid colon, which necessitated a colostomy.

Doe also was later diagnosed as having an injured right ureter. Doe required a colostomy bag for ten months. She also required surgery to treat several incisional hernias.
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James Kowher underwent a stress test after experiencing an episode of chest pain while he was sleeping. Cardiologist Dr. Sobhan Kodali interpreted the test as negative.

About nine months later, Kowher experienced repeated chest pain episodes accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea and perspiration. Additionally, these episodes were increasing in frequency and severity and continued for up to ten minutes. Kowher’s primary care physician arranged an appointment with Dr. Kodali for two days later.

Dr. Kodali ordered an EKG and diagnosed Kowher as having panic attacks before discharging him. The primary care physician subsequently referred Kowher to a gastroenterologist, whose notes stated that Kowher’s chest pain were ongoing and worsening.
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