Medical malpractice lawsuit settled for $5 million

When brain injury occurs, it can significantly alter a person’s life. Unfortunately, a brain injury can occur during the treatment for other medical issues.

That’s what happened in this case about a 64-year-old woman. The medical malpractice trial was set to begin this month, but the case was actually settled on Dec. 30, 2015.

The settlement does not include the physicians or Northwest Community Hospital, which is located in Cook County, Illinois, admitting any type of liability for what happened to the woman. The court documents state that the woman went to the emergency room on May 5, 2011. She might have suffered a seizure in the ER and she was confused and getting weaker. She had a low serum sodium level according to testing results.

She was diagnosed with very low sodium in her blood and a sodium solution was prescribed. This continued for 48 hours. She was eventually transferred to another hospital, where she was given a different diagnosis: potine myelinosis. This is an injury to the brain’s myelin sheaths. These are the coverings for nerve fibers or axons and they help move nerve impulses.

She was in a nursing home from May 11, 2011, until December 2014. She was finally allowed to return home when her condition improved, but she still has problems using her hands and legs. The potine myelinosis was caused by the sodium treatment, according to the woman’s lawyers.

When you suffer injury or illness because of medical malpractice, you have a right to file a civil lawsuit to seek compensation. A Connecticut attorney can provide additional information on how this process works.

Source: Cook County Record, “$5 million medical malpractice settlement OK’d vs doctors, Northwest Community Hospital,” Emma Gallimore, Jan. 22, 2016