$2.62 Million Jury Verdict in Negligent Treatment of Abdominal Ulcer

Hansaben Patel, 74, was hospitalized and diagnosed as having uncontrolled diabetes and an electrolyte imbalance. While hospitalized, Patel’s hemoglobin dropped.

A gastroenterologist, Dr. Fadi Deeb, diagnosed a duodenal ulcer and prescribed proton pump inhibitors. Patel suffered two large bleeds and was then transferred to the facility’s ICU.

After a third massive bleed, Dr. Deeb performed surgery. It was unsuccessful in stopping Patel’s bleeding. Before scheduled embolization by an interventional radiologist, Patel vomited and aspirated blood.

Embolization is designed to stop internal bleeding and uses particles such as tiny gelatin sponges to block a blood vessel. This stops bleeding or blocks the flow of blood in the abdominal tissue.

After the embolization, Patel was placed on a ventilator for five weeks until her family removed her from life support. Patel was survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.

Patel’s husband, on her behalf, sued Dr. Deeb, alleging improper treatment of the ulcer and choosing not to order a timely embolization.

The Patel family argued that Dr. Deeb should have cauterized the vessels of the ulcer and referred Patel for embolization after the first bleed.

The jury signed a verdict for this wrongful death case for $2.62 million.

The attorney handling this lawsuit for the Patel family was James Campbell.

Patel v. Deeb, No. 20182625 (Ariz. Super. Ct. Pima County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence lawsuits, wrongful death cases, hospital negligence lawsuits, and physician negligence cases 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 Melrose Park, Lombard, Bloomingdale, Itasca, Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Bridgeview, Alsip, Chicago (Brighton Park, Chatham, Englewood, South Shore, South Chicago, East Side, Near North Side, Little Village, West Loop, West Town, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park), Oak Park, Northlake, Wood Dale, Rosemont and Niles, Ill.

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

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