Cook County Jury Verdict for Doctor in Death from Undiagnosed Pulmonary Embolism; Estate of K.R., deceased v. Suburban Heights Medical Center, S.C.

A Cook County jury has found in favor of internist Dr. Sanjeev Joshi in a claim for an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism resulting in the death of K.R. K.R. presented to her internist, Dr. Joshi, at his Suburban Heights Medical Center office in Chicago Heights, Ill., on March 3, 2003. Her principal complaints consisted of an extended period of shortness of breath, dizziness and vaginal bleeding.

Dr. Joshi ordered a blood draw in his office, which revealed a severely low hemoglobin level at 7.6. Because of the blood level, K.R. was admitted to St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights for testing, observation and blood transfusions. During the 23-hour hospitalization, K.R. was evaluated by an obstetrician/gynecologist who ordered Depo-Provera in an attempt to stop her vaginal bleeding.

K.R.’s condition improved after receiving blood transfusions, but she died of a massive saddle pulmonary embolism four days later.

The family of K.R. sued Dr. Joshi for choosing not take a patient history and for choosing not to perform a complete physical examination. It was alleged in the family’s complaint that had those two things been done, Dr. Joshi would have discovered that K.R. had been experiencing calf pain, which would have prompted Dr. Joshi to order tests to rule out deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In addition, it was alleged that had the tests been conducted, anticoagulation therapy would have been started, which could have saved K.R.’s life.

The defendant argued that the patient, K.R., did not present with any symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism on March 3, 2003 when she came to Dr. Joshi’s office. The doctor’s position was that K.R. presented with symptoms that were consistent with severe anemia caused by chronic vaginal bleeding.

Further, Dr. Joshi maintained that the Depo-Provera injection caused a hypercoagulable state, which led to a thromboembolism after K.R. was discharged from St. James Hospital on March 4, 2003. A thromboembolism is a formation in a blood vessel of a clot (thrombus) that can break loose and carry to the bloodstream plugging another vessel. These clots can clot vessels in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke) or in the intestinal track, kidneys or legs. Treatment includes anticoagulants or blood thinners such as aspirin or other drugs, which are designed to relax and widen blood vessels.

The jury found for both Dr. Joshi and his medical practice, Suburban Heights Medical Center, S.C. and against the plaintiff’s family.

Estate of K.R., deceased v. Suburban Heights Medical Center, S.C.
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence cases for individuals and families for more than 36 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Chicago (Roscoe Village), Des Plaines, Schiller Park, Franklin Park, Western Springs, Hickory Hills, Clarendon Hills, Chicago (East Side), Chicago (Hyde Park) and Oak Park, Illinois.