$4.7 Jury Verdict for Brain Damage to Patient Caused by Negligent Brain Aneurysm Procedure

Christine Coffey was diagnosed as having a “berry aneurysm.” The vascular surgeon assigned to Coffey was Dr. Henry Woo who reviewed Coffey’s images and advised her that an untreated aneurysm could cause sudden death.

Dr. Woo performed an Onyx brain aneurysm procedure. During the procedure, Coffey suffered brain damage that has left her with permanent hemiparesis. Hemiparesis, or unilateral paresis, is the weakness of one side of the body. Hemiparesis can be caused by different medical conditions, including stroke.
Coffey had worked at a hospital, but she is now unable to work. She also has an impaired ability to take care of her young child.

Coffey sued Dr. Woo alleging negligence in that he chose not to obtain an informed consent. The lawsuit claimed that Dr. Woo had forced the liquid Onyx embolic agent into Coffey’s small aneurysm, causing the Onyx particles to escape the aneurysm and cause a stroke. Coffey also asserted that Dr. Woo decided not to advise her of the dangers of the surgery and safer available alternatives.

The use of the Onyx liquid embolic system was introduced in late 2007 for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The Onyx liquid is an artificial, glue-like substance material used to block blood flow into aneurysms. The material is utilized to fill the aneurysm space, or pocket, and is designed to prevent the aneurysm from rupturing or increasing in size. Onyx 500 is an FDA-approved material for the treatment of aneurysms, including the case here.

The attorneys successfully handling this case were Steven Pegalis and James Baydar.

Coffey v. Woo, No. 14168/2012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Nassau County, May 30, 2019).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling brain injury lawsuits, lawsuits involving stroke victims, vascular surgery negligence lawsuits and medical 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 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Cicero, Joliet, Addison, Wood Dale, Maywood, Oak Park, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, Wheaton, West Chicago, Downers Grove, LaGrange, Willowbrook, Chicago (West Lawn, Marquette Park, South Side, Chatham, Avalon Park, South Shore, Wood Lawn, Washington Heights, Near South Side, Little Italy), River Grove, Rosemont, Morton Grove, Des Plaines and Evanston, Ill.