$1 Million Settlement for Paralysis of Patient After Outpatient Hernia Surgery

In December 2015, the plaintiff, Michael Burke, who was then 73 years old, underwent a scheduled hernia repair at Northwestern Medicine-Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, Ill.

After this hernia repair surgery, his blood pressure dropped and he complained of severe abdominal pain. Burke’s family asked the surgeon, Dr. Stephen Goldman, to look in on Burke, but Dr. Goldman allegedly said that he would not do so until he was finished with other patients.

At about 6 p.m. that same day, Dr. Goldman performed an exploratory surgery and found Burke’s abdomen was full of blood. An hour later, Burke’s wife noticed her husband had weakness on the left side of his face, he was unable to fully open his left eye, his lip was drooping and his speech was slurred.

The following afternoon, Burke’s condition worsened and he was unable to eat or drink. Another doctor examined him and determined that he had suffered an acute thrombosis with ischemic infarction of the middle cerebral artery, also known as a middle cerebral artery stroke. By that time, it was too late to do any remedial medical treatment.

After he was released from the hospital, he went to multiple rehabilitation centers but did not make progress. The stroke caused damage to 80% of his right brain, according to his attorney. Burke is now 75 years old and is bedridden, paralyzed on his left side and unable to logically converse.

Before this unfortunate incident, Burke owned an auto repair shop and was a property manager. Burke and his wife were represented by Charles “Chuck” E. Cronauer of Cronauer Law and by attorney C. Nicholas Cronauer, both of Sycamore, Ill.

It was noted in the reporting of the case that a settlement was reached with a DeKalb hospital and its nurses but a lawsuit continues against the defendant Dr. Stephen Goldman on counts of negligence and loss of consortium for Burke’s spouse. A trial date in DeKalb County has not yet been set.

Michael Burke, et al. v. Kishhealth System, et al., 17 L 145 (23rd Judicial Circuit, DeKalb County, Ill.).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, birth trauma injury lawsuits, surgery negligence lawsuits and wrongful death cases 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 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including River Grove, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights, Northbrook, Deerfield, Mettawa, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Grayslake, Round Lake Heights, Lindenhurst, Waukegan, Cary, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Wheeling, Summit, Barrington Hills, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bloomingdale, Lake Zurich, Wheaton, Plainfield, Romeoville, Lockport, New Lenox, Lemont, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Chicago (Englewood, Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Canaryville, Little Italy, Greek Town, East Garfield Park, Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Ravenswood Manor, Lakeview, Andersonville, Sauganash, Jefferson Park, Rogers Park, Edison Park, Norwood Park), Niles, Skokie, Des Plaines and Mount Prospect, Ill.