$3 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Timely Diagnose and Treat Bowel Perforation

Frances Mitchell, 43, underwent outpatient laparoscopic surgery performed by surgeon Dr. Andrew Green at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Approximately 12 hours after the surgery, she returned to the medical center complaining of severe abdominal pain. Dr. Green examined her, diagnosed bladder spasms and discharged her.

Mitchell died several days later. She was survived by her mother and two children.

Mitchell’s family and estate filed a lawsuit against Dr. Green, the medical center, a physician group, and the health system alleging that she had suffered a bowel perforation during the surgery but that Dr. Green had chosen not to recognize and repair it intraoperatively.

This failure led to a bowel leak, sepsis and her death.

The Mitchell family asserted that Dr. Green should have observed Mitchell for a longer period following the procedure. The Mitchell family also charged that Dr. Green had chosen not to respond to the family’s phone calls regarding Mitchell’s deteriorating condition.

The jury signed a verdict for $3 million.

The experts presented by the Mitchell family’s attorney were in the areas of general surgery and pathology. The defendants presented experts in general surgery and pathology as well.

The attorney successfully handling this tragic case was Kenneth J. Lewis.

Metcalf v. Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc., No. 2018 CV 000076 (Ga. Super. Ct. Hall County, March 23, 2021).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling surgical error lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, physician negligence cases, brain injury lawsuits, nursing negligence cases and medical malpractice 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 Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Buffalo Grove, Highland Park, Skokie, Franklin Park, Oak Park, Bedford Park, Palos Park, Orland Park, Oak Forest, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Chicago (Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Greek Town, Calumet Heights, Avalon Park, Ford City, Ashburn, Archer Heights, McKinley Park, South Loop, West Loop, East Garfield Park, Belmont Gardens, Park West, Buena Park, Uptown, Rogers Park), Lincolnshire, Hillside, Waukegan and Elgin, Illinois.

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