$16.5 Million Settlement Reached in Amputations for Alleged Malpractice in Treating a Kidney Stone

Ana Pereira, 29, was admitted to Monmouth Medical Center where she was diagnosed as having a kidney stone and renal colic. Her condition continued to deteriorate. Blood cultures were positive for bacterial growth by noon of the next day. Pereira underwent a successful procedure to drain her kidney after one failed attempt. However, she developed sepsis.

As a result of the sepsis, Pereira fell into a coma for 5 days and suffered a loss of peripheral circulation. Because of the lack of circulation, bilateral leg amputations and the removal of her left hand at the wrist were necessary.

Pereira sued four physicians who treated her at the medical center alleging negligent treatment of the kidney stone. She also alleged that an on-call urologist chose not to timely report to the hospital when the facility notified his employer of her condition. Pereira claimed that the employer of the urologist had contracted to handle emergency calls from the hospital despite the one-hour driving distance between the practice and the hospital, which precluded a medically acceptable response time.

Before trial, the treating physicians who were involved in Pereira’s case settled for $16.5 million. The neurologist and his practice then settled with Pereira for an additional $1 million each.

The attorney handling this case for Ana Pereira was Bruce Nagel.

Pereira v. Esposito, No. MON-L-1397-12 (N.J. Super. Ct. Monmouth County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence cases, physician negligence cases and hospital negligence cases for individuals and families 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 Chicago Ridge, Justice, Morton Grove, Matteson, Markham, Lyons, Lynwood, Lincolnwood, Lincolnshire, Des Plaines, Crete, Countryside, Calumet Park, Burbank, Chicago (South Chicago, South Shore, University of Chicago, Wrigleyville, Kenwood, Korea Town, Irving Park, Hyde Park, Humboldt Park, Horner Park, Gold Coast, Edgebrook, Near North Side, Brighton Park, Bridgeport, Beverly, Belmont Gardens, Austin, Belmont Harbor), Cicero, Evanston, Fox River Grove, Geneva, Hinsdale and Joliet, Ill.