Illinois Jury Enters $1 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case

An 11-year-old lawsuit finally came to an end in St. Clair County, Ill., when the jury entered a $1 million verdict for the medical malpractice-wrongful death of 71-year-old Margaret Janet Brown.  The case stemmed from  a 2002 coronary artery bypass surgery that failed.

In this case, the wrongful death-medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against a Bellville, Ill., anesthesiologist.  The doctor named as a defendant was Daniel P. Gillen of St. Clair Hospital Anesthesia.  St. Elizabeth’s Hospital was also named as a defendant in the case, which was filed in 2003.

The lawsuit alleged negligence causing the death of Brown.  According to the complaint, Dr. Gillen chose not to first obtain a consent to use a Swan-Ganz catheter during the coronary artery bypass surgery.  The Swan-Ganz catheter is used in surgery to measure a patient’s blood flow output. The lawsuit also claimed that the anesthesiologist chose not to properly monitor the catherization during Brown’s surgery.

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital settled its part of the case with the Brown family before the start of the jury trial.  The Brown family was represented by Joseph Bartholomew. 

Brown v. St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, et al. (St. Clair County, Illinois)

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling medical 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 Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills, Chicago Ridge, Countryside, Western Springs, Blue Island, Oak Lawn, Maywood, Villa Park, Glenview, Glencoe and Chicago (Ravenswood), Ill.

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