$2.7 Million Settlement for the Failure to Properly Clean Port Site of Home Health Care Patient

Ms. Doe, receiving home health care, was an amputee who experienced constant pain at her stump site. To care for her condition, she was given pain medication. She had an epidural Port-A-Cath implanted under the skin of her chest. Ms. Doe was discharged from a hospital and planned to receive several weeks of home care from visiting nurses who would be assigned to clean the new port site, change her dressing and check for signs of infection.

Four days after Ms. Doe’s port was inserted, a visiting nurse, Roe, allegedly noted that the port site looked tender and had drainage. Roe allegedly changed Ms. Doe’s dressing. She did not contact Ms. Doe’s doctor about these findings.

During a later visit, Ms. Doe allegedly told Roe that she had decreased sensation to her bladder. Roe allegedly changed Ms. Doe’s dressing but did not return to see her for about five days. During this time, Ms. Doe’s port site was red and swollen. She complained of decreased sensation to the lower part of her body.

Finally, Roe allegedly contacted Ms. Doe’s physician, who instructed Ms. Doe to go to a hospital. There, Ms. Doe was diagnosed as having an infection at her port site. She was given antibiotics and underwent surgery to drain the infection.

Tragically, despite these interventions, Ms. Doe suffered permanent damage to her spine resulting in paraplegia.

Ms. Doe sued Roe, alleging that she chose not to properly clean the port site, which led to the infection and resulting paraplegia.

The defendant reportedly disputed that Ms. Doe’s paralysis resulted from her port infection.

At a mediation before trial, the parties settled this matter for $2.7 million.

The attorneys successfully handling this case for Ms. Doe were Robert M. Higgins and Barrie Duchesneau.

Doe v. Roe Nurse, Confidential docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling nursing home negligence cases, home health care lawsuits, nursing negligence cases, 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 Des Plaines, Morton Grove, Evanston, Riverside, Hickory Hills, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Country Club Hills, Crestwood, Forest Park, Blue Island, Chicago (Garfield Ridge, Cottage Grove Heights, Burnside, Hegewisch, Riverdale, Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Albany Park, Bronzeville, Buena Park, Uptown, Andersonville, Gold Coast, Belmont Central, University Village, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, East Garfield Park, Printers Row), Niles, Highland Park, Orland Park, South Barrington and Lincolnshire, Ill.

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