$1.25 Million Jury Verdict for Below Knee Amputation Caused by Incorrectly Wrapped Wound Dressing

Andrew Swanson had a history of various medical problems including diabetes, end-stage renal disease and gangrene. After undergoing a skin graft on his right foot, he was transferred to Regional Hospital for Respiratory and Complex Care.
He was in his mid-40’s and was treated with foot dressing to be changed daily and wrapped with non-elastic Kerlix dressing.

In spite of this procedure ordered by his treating physicians, a Regional Hospital nurse applied an elastic Ace bandage and left it in place for three days.

When the same nurse unwrapped the bandage, Swanson’s foot was necrotic. He returned to the first hospital, where he underwent a below-the-knee amputation because of necrosis of his skin and bone infection, osteomyelitis.

Swanson sued Regional Hospital claiming that its nurse had used an incorrect type of bandage, wrapped it too tightly, and chose not to change his dressing daily, contrary to the treating physician’s orders.

The jury signed a verdict for approximately $1.25 million.

The attorneys successfully representing Swanson in this difficult case were Ralph J. Brindley and Robert N. Gellatly.

Swanson v. Franciscan Health System, No. 16-2-24744-0-KNT (Wash. Super. Ct. King County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, traumatic injury cases, brain injury lawsuits, orthopedic negligence lawsuits and surgery negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Wood Dale, Bensenville, Villa Park, Brookfield, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Hodgkins, Franklin Park, Norridge, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Chicago (Archer Heights, East Ukrainian Village, Bucktown, Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, Albany Park, Gold Coast, Humboldt Park, Wrigleyville, West Loop, Uptown, Streeterville, Sauganash, River North, Roscoe Village), Chicago Ridge, Chicago Heights, Midlothian, Harvey, Calumet Park and Bedford Park, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman was the lead counsel when he tried and obtained a jury verdict for his client for $2.86 million in a similar case in which the client’s bone infection led to a below-knee amputation. The case involved the negligence of an orthopedic surgeon.