$1.6 Million Settlement Reached After Mediation for Wrongful Death of Patient Caused by Overuse of Lovenox

In the confidential reporting of this case, Mr. Doe, 58, developed shortness of breath. He was admitted to a local hospital where he underwent various tests to rule out pulmonary embolism.

The hospital staff interpreted a pulmonary angiogram suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, an embolism. Mr. Doe was prescribed Coumadin and injectable Lovenox. He was then discharged from the hospital.

The following day, Mr. Doe returned to the emergency room complaining of severe abdominal pain. A CT scan and ultrasound showed a rectus sheath hematoma with internal bleeding. A rectus sheath hematoma is described as an accumulation of blood in the outer lining or sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. The condition causes abdominal pain with or without a mass. The collection of blood or the hematoma may be caused by either rupture of the epigastric artery or by a muscular tear.

The emergency room physician, Dr. Roe, allegedly talked to a radiologist who interpreted the CT scan suggesting that the pulmonary angiogram result could have been a “false positive.”

Apparently relying on the radiologist’s interpretation of the CT scan, the ER physician discharged Mr. Doe, continuing him on anticoagulants.

Unfortunately, the next day Mr. Doe died. He had been a correctional sergeant earning $130,000 per year and is survived by his wife and three adult children.

Mr. Doe’s wife sued the healthcare provider alleging failure to order a lung scan to rule out pulmonary embolism before discharging Mr. Doe from the last emergency room visit. It was also claimed that continuing Mr. Doe on anticoagulants was wrong while he was suffering from an active gastrointestinal bleed, which was extremely dangerous.

At mediation, the parties settled the case for $1.6 million.

The attorneys who successfully handled this case for Mr. Doe were Daniel M. Hodes and Jacob Brender.

Doe v. Roe Healthcare Provider, Confidential Docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling emergency room negligence lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, medical malpractice lawsuits and birth trauma injury cases for individuals, families and their loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the negligence or carelessness of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Mount Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Darien, Forest Park, Elmwood Park, Norridge, Harwood Heights, Oak Lawn, Waukegan, Crystal Lake, Cary, Romeoville, Northfield, Chicago (Wrigleyville, Morgan Park, Lake Calumet, East Side, South Shore, Grand Crossing, Avalon Park, Pill Hill, South Deering, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, Old Town, Goose Island, Greek Town, Little Italy), Berkeley, Villa Park and Rolling Meadows, Ill.