$3 Million Arbitration Award for Wrongful Discharge and Death for Failure to Treat Patient with Lymphoma

Ms. Doe, 48, was admitted to a hospital where blood work showed several severe abnormalities. Nonetheless, Dr. Roe, the hospitalist overseeing Ms. Doe’s care, discharged her. Ms. Doe’s condition worsened, and she returned to the hospital. She was diagnosed with leukemia and was then transferred to another hospital, where she was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Ms. Doe died two weeks after she first presented to the hospital. She was survived by her husband and five children.

The lawsuit against the hospitalist and others alleged medical negligence and wrongful death. The Doe family claimed that the hospitalist should not have discharged Ms. Doe in light of her abnormal blood work. It was also alleged that the defendant chose not to provide the correct diagnosis of lymphoma. Lymphoma was the cause of death listed on Ms. Doe’s death certificate.

The hospitalist demanded arbitration, which the Doe family accepted. The proceeding in arbitration was on damages only. An arbitrator awarded approximately $3.07 million plus more than $461,900 in attorney’s fees. The lawsuit against the remaining medical providers is pending.

The attorneys representing the Doe family were Nancy La Vista and Michael S. Smith.

Doe v. Roe Hospitalist, Confidential docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, misdiagnosis of cancer lawsuits, and physician negligence lawsuits 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 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Calumet City, Palatine, Palos Hills, LaGrange, Arlington Heights, Orland Park, Skokie, Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich, Chicago (Rogers Park, North Lawndale, Austin, Back of the Yards, Pilsen, Old Town Triangle, Ukrainian Village), Naperville, North Riverside, and Winnetka, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.