THE LAW OFFICES OF
BARRY G. DOYLE, P.C.
100 W MONROE ST.,
STE 2100
CHICAGO, IL 60603
PHONE: 312.263.1080
FAX: 312.263.0153
Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog
Serving Chicago, Rockford, Aurora, and Surrounding Areas
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Blood loss during dialysis results in patient death
A 68-year old man died on May 1 while undergoing dialysis at a Jacksonville, Illinois dialysis clinic. The man's death, caused by excessive blood loss during dialysis when a tube loosened during the treatment, prompted an investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
That investigation resulted in a finding of deficiencies against the clinic with regard to the health and safety of its patients. However, the IDPH would not comment on the reasons for the citation. A spokesman for the clinic was able to tell the newspaper that the most recent inspection by IDPH showed no deficiencies and that the company was committed to quality care and patient safety.
It would seem to me that the patient's family has a basis for a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against the center. The center had an obligation to make sure that the equipment was properly maintained and was properly set up for the treatment of the patient. Additionally, the center was responsible for monitoring the patient's condition while treatment was underway.
Setting aside the legal issues of liability, there are also issues that should be considered concerning the Illinois Department of Public Health as a guardian of public safety. If the center fell so far short in the quality of care that a patient died as a result, shouldn't other patients of that center be advised of what had happened so they can make informed decisions about where they get their care? Don't patients at other dialysis centers deserve to know what went wrong so they can look for similar problems at their own clinics?
Instead of valuable information from IDPH about what went wrong, the public instead gets assurances from the center that a) the last inspection was deficiency-free (i.e., they either junked or repaired the broken equipment and fired or retrained the employees) and b) they are committed to quality care and patient safety. That is called spin, and it is barely acceptable coming from politicians and is completely unacceptable when it comes to matters of public health and safety. Unfortunately, due to IDPH's failure to disclose the nature of the deficiencies, that is what the public is left with.
That investigation resulted in a finding of deficiencies against the clinic with regard to the health and safety of its patients. However, the IDPH would not comment on the reasons for the citation. A spokesman for the clinic was able to tell the newspaper that the most recent inspection by IDPH showed no deficiencies and that the company was committed to quality care and patient safety.
It would seem to me that the patient's family has a basis for a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against the center. The center had an obligation to make sure that the equipment was properly maintained and was properly set up for the treatment of the patient. Additionally, the center was responsible for monitoring the patient's condition while treatment was underway.
Setting aside the legal issues of liability, there are also issues that should be considered concerning the Illinois Department of Public Health as a guardian of public safety. If the center fell so far short in the quality of care that a patient died as a result, shouldn't other patients of that center be advised of what had happened so they can make informed decisions about where they get their care? Don't patients at other dialysis centers deserve to know what went wrong so they can look for similar problems at their own clinics?
Instead of valuable information from IDPH about what went wrong, the public instead gets assurances from the center that a) the last inspection was deficiency-free (i.e., they either junked or repaired the broken equipment and fired or retrained the employees) and b) they are committed to quality care and patient safety. That is called spin, and it is barely acceptable coming from politicians and is completely unacceptable when it comes to matters of public health and safety. Unfortunately, due to IDPH's failure to disclose the nature of the deficiencies, that is what the public is left with.
Labels: medical malpractice, wrongful death
posted by Barry Doyle at 3:19 AM
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