On Monday, a Cook County, Illinois jury awarded $22.3 million to the parents of a 10-year-old boy in a medical malpractice case.
Jake Tinman was born on May 15, 1999 at Advocate Christ Medical Center / Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He was born with a congenital heart defect that required a shunt procedure. Baby Jake was sent home with his parents Pamela and Michael Tinman. Two weeks later, the couple returned to the emergency room. During this visit to the hospital, delays and negligent care allegedly resulted in Jake Tinman losing his left leg.
The jury sided with the parents after a three-week trial. They jury agreed that the hospital failed to make a timely diagnosis of a problem with Jake’s shunt, improperly subjected him to an unnecessary catheterization, improperly applied a pressure dressing to Jake’s left leg and failed to remove it in time, improperly destroyed an echocardiogram, and failed to monitor Jake’s pulse. Jake’s left leg had to be amputated because of the improper dressing, and delayed treatment and the cardiac catheterization allegedly led to Jake’s cognitive deficiencies and developmental delays.
Mike Maggio, a spokesman for the hospital, said, “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Tinman family and their ongoing navigation of a difficult health journey. While we are not able to comment on specific issues of the case due to ongoing litigation, we continue our commitment to saving lives and providing excellent compassionate care.”
The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed by Jake’s parents in 2002. The judge presiding over the case was Ho. Clare Elizabeth McWilliams. Attorneys Antonio M. Romanucci and Stephan D. Blandin of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC represented the plaintiffs. Edward H. Nielsen of Pretzel & Stouffer represented defendant Tarek Husayni, M.D., a cardiologist. Rudy Schade of CassidaySchade, LLC represented the remaining defendants.
Medical negligence can result in unnecessary amputations, other serious injuries, and even death. Developmental delays and cognitive deficiencies last a lifetime. Even slight errors can result in serious, permanent injuries. That’s why medical professionals go through such extensive training. When children are injured by medical malpractice, the injuries deprive them of a normal childhood. Injured children may also need special medical care for their entire lives. Parents may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit if a medical professional fails to diagnose birth defects or other problems, gives the baby the wrong medication, improperly delivers the baby, delays treatment, or makes surgical errors.
Medical malpractice applies to not only medical doctors but also other health care providers like therapists, nurses, psychologists, dentists, and chiropractors. These professionals may also be sued for malpractice.
If you or a loved one have been injured by medical negligence, contact a Georgia medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Time is of the essence. In Georgia, there is a two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice. Any legal action must be taken within two years of the date of injury. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your case will be. If you need advice about your legal rights, call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule a free consultation.