$3.72 Million Jury Verdict for Delayed Treatment of Stroke

Kristine Haveman, 38, collapsed at home and was brought to a nearby hospital in an unresponsive condition. The emergency room personnel examined her and ordered a CT scan. Doctors interpreted the scans as normal. That evening a neurologist diagnosed a thrombus in the left cerebral artery, which necessitated thrombolytic therapy.

Because of the delay in diagnosis and treatment, she suffered cognitive deficits resulting in problems with speech and word retrieval. She also has experienced fatigue and right-sided weakness. She had been a teacher who planned to return to work but is now unable to do so.

Haven filed a lawsuit against Dr. Kenneth Dirk, an emergency room physician and his employer, Oregon Emergency Physicians, claiming that these defendants’ negligence was the cause of an eight-hour delay in administering thrombolytic medication.The lawsuit claimed that the CT scan had been misinterpreted and that Haveman was wrongfully treated with Ativan for anxiety and emotional problems before the neurologist’s stroke diagnosis.

It was claimed that had she been timely treated with the appropriate clot-busting medication, she would not have suffered brain and central nervous system damage.

The jury signed a verdict of $3,720,000. It was reported that post-trial motions are pending. The attorneys representing Kristine Haveman were Jane Paulson and Travis Eiva.

Haveman v. Providence-Health & Services, No. 1404-04430 (Or. Cir. Ct. Multnomah County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling misdiagnosis of stroke cases, hospital negligence cases, emergency room physician negligence cases and medical malpractice 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 Bridgeview, Norridge, Barrington, Winnetka, Joliet, Aurora, Bannockburn, Hinsdale, Long Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Chicago (Chinatown, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Sauganash, Wicker Park), Calumet City and Blue Island, Ill.