John Doe, 48, had a history of hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking. When he experienced shortness of breath and chest tightness, he went to a local hospital emergency room where he underwent an EKG. Dr. Roe, an emergency room physician, allegedly interpreted the EKG as “fairly normal” and instructed Doe to see his primary care physician as soon as possible and then obtain a cardiac consultation.
Two days later, Doe returned to the emergency room after suffering acute chest pain. Tests revealed an acute thrombus of the left anterior descending coronary artery and other cardiac disease.
Although Doe underwent an angioplasty and stenting, Doe died several months later of organ failure. He had been a corporate controller earning $117,000 per year. Doe was survived by his wife.
Doe’s wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Roe, alleging that the doctor chose not to properly interpret an abnormal EKG and immediately refer Doe for stenting. The defendant argued that Doe’s EKG was essentially normal and that he had left the emergency room against medical advice. The defense also asserted that Doe’s outcome could not have changed.
Before trial, the parties settled the case confidentially for $975,000. The attorney who represented the Doe wife and family was Daniel M. Hodes of Irvine, Calif.
Doe v. Roe, Confidential Docket.
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence lawsuits, wrongful death cases, nursing home abuse cases, birth trauma and birth injury cases and hospital negligence cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Joliet, Vernon Hills, Chicago (Logan Square, Ashburn, Austin, Rogers Park, East Side, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Greek Town), Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lake Bluff, Waukegan and Lake Forest, Ill.
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