$1.75 Million Settlement for Death of Premature Child Dislodged from Ventilator

 A 15-month-old child who required 24-hour care as a result of his extreme prematurity was under the care of a home health care nurse.  The nurse’s duties included keeping a watchful eye on the child to make sure he was properly ventilated. On the date of this incident, the child became detached from the ventilator. 

According to the lawsuit, the home health care nurse panicked and called the child’s father.  When the father came to the aid of the child, he began resuscitation efforts.  However, the child suffered cardiac arrest resulting in hypoxic brain damage.  The child is now in a persistent vegetative state. 

The family sued the home health care nurse claiming that she failed to manage the child’s oxygen saturation in a timely fashion, chose not to manage the child’s oxygen saturation, did not timely notice the dislodged ventilator and chose not to resuscitate the child in a timely manner.

Before trial, the parties entered into a confidential settlement for $1,750,000.  Our office handled a very similar and unfortunate case in which a ventilator-dependent child likewise became detached from the ventilator in the sole care of the home health care nurse.  In that case, the nurse called 911 but did not resuscitate the child, who died before help could arrive.

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling medical negligence cases and nursing negligence cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Wheaton, Justice, Melrose Park, Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Elk Grove Village and Chicago (Wicker Park, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square, Greek Town), Ill.

Related blog posts:

Illinois Jury Enters $1 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case

Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict for Doctors for In Case Where Patient Died Hours After Cardiac Surgery

$2.5 Million Settlement for Doctor’s Failure to Follow Up on Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer