$1.4 Million for Malpractice Death

The family of a 56-year-old disabled individual settled their lawsuit against a Chicagoland
hospital and surgeon regarding medical negligence that resulted in his death. On May 15, 2019, the decedent presented to a Chicagoland hospital to have weight loss surgery. He weighed 386 pounds. The surgeon had placed strict orders that he be kept in a semi-recumbent position following the surgery to reduce the amount of pressure on his abdomen. Despite being in a bariatric bed (larger bed for bigger patients) before surgery the decedent was placed in a standard hospital bed following the surgery. The decedent’s bed collapsed the day after surgery causing him to slide down to the ground. Following the bed collapse the decedent’s condition deteriorated and he coded. He developed severe abdominal pressure, that was not immediately detected by the treating physicians and staff who were not properly monitoring his inter- abdominal pressure. He coded again two days after his surgery and had numerous other complications. He died on May 21, 2019. The decedent is survived by his wife and children. $725,000 was paid by the self-insured hospital, $675,000 was paid by the surgeon’s insurance carrier. David J. Gallagher of Napleton & Partners represented the family.