On November 1, 2020, a 37-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department at a Chicagoland hospital with complaints of increased blood pressure, dizziness, and headache. A CT scan of her head was ordered and interpreted by the defendant radiologist, who read the study as showing no intracranial abnormalities when he compared it to a 2019 head CT.
Eight days later, the plaintiff passed out at work and was brought back to the emergency department where she was diagnosed with a stroke and transferred the next day to a higher level of care.
Plaintiff’s radiology and neurology experts both testified that the November 1, 2020 scan showed abnormalities, specifically when compared to the 2019 scan. Had the abnormalities been recognized, secondary stroke prevention treatment would have been instituted on November 1, 2020, and the stroke eight days later would not have occurred.
As a result of the stroke, the plaintiff suffered a minor vision loss of her right eye.
The settlement included $200,000 paid by the defendant Chicagoland hospital and $1.5 million paid on behalf of the defendant doctor. Brian C. Fetzer and Bradley Z. Schulman of Napleton & Partners represented the plaintiff.