Personal Injury Law

Lawsuits Filed Against Hospital Sacrificing Care for Profits

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

Several new lawsuits have been filed against Columbia St. Mary?s Hospital following cost-cutting measures taken by the facility which led to an increase in patient infections. The victims claim that while building a new $400 million hospital, the facility cut its infection control staff, leading to the problems.

Specifically, five suits were filed by women who underwent surgery at the medical facility and suffered infection complications afterward. One victim nearly died after a 2008 hip replacement. She suffered an invasive infection while at the facility leading to kidney failure, oxygen deprivation, and heart problems. She still has movement problems, and spends most of her time in a wheelchair.

Several other patients suffered similar infections at the facility, including staph infections and the MRSA super-bug?the infection immune to most common antibiotics. The hospital has faced infection lawsuits in the past, a fact which has spurred one of its own doctors to warn potential patients about the facility?s susceptibility to the problem. The facility beefed up its infection control program following those past problems. However, the control measures stopped when the new hospital construction began. As a result, these victims (and perhaps others) may have suffered.

Our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Levin & Perconti continue to rail against the practices of many medical facilities that place profits above care. It is simply inexcusable for patients and their families to suffer debilitating, painful injuries and complications because their medical provider cuts corners when providing care. Of course it is also obviously that patients should not acquire a sickness while at a hospital while being treated for something else. If you or someone you know may have fallen victim to this money-driven medical mistake, please seek legal advice to learn about the options available to ensure that future residents do not suffer similar problems.

Click Here to learn more about this example of negligent medical care.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on November 08, 2010 (boomark / email).