Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Johnson v. Waukegan Ill. Hosp. Co., No. 13 L 11213 (Ill. Cir. Ct. Cook Cnty. Apr. 5, 2019).

Tamekia Johnson, 23, went to a hospital emergency room, complaining of a severe headache. A nurse noted that Johnson had weakness, vision difficulties, severe headache, and vomiting. A physician examined Johnson and noted that she could not keep her right eye open and that she had drooping on the right side of her mouth. A subsequent CT scan was negative, and Johnson was diagnosed as having Bell’s palsy. As she was getting ready for her discharge, Johnson experienced an unsteady gait.

She told the discharge nurse that she could not read her discharge paperwork; however, the nurse did not inform Johnson’s physician. Johnson lost vision in both eyes after her discharge. She returned to the hospital and underwent a CT scan, which was also read as negative. A physician referred her to an optometrist and a mental health facility. The next day, the optometrist diagnosed swelling of the optic nerve. Johnson was sent to another hospital, where she was diagnosed as having cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Despite treatment, she did not regain her vision. Johnson sued the first hospital and others, alleging failure to timely diagnose cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

The plaintiff claimed that she should have been timely referred to a neurologist and ophthalmologist, who would have ordered studies that would have revealed a swollen optic nerve resulting from increased intracranial pressure caused by the clot. Had she received timely heparin and Diamox, the plaintiff argued, she would not have suffered permanent vision loss.

The parties settled for $14.85 million.

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Matthew L. Williams, Aaron D. Boeder, Heidi L. Wickstrom, and Patrick A. Salvi II, all of Chicago.