March 01 2007
$4.5 Million Medical Malpractice Settlement Reached
CHICAGO, IL - Michael P. Schostok recently won a $4.5 million settlement on behalf of a minor, against Defendant, Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation located in Chicago, Illinois.
Plaintiffs alleged that between October 9, 1995 and April 25, 1996, Dr. Michael Socol and his nursing staff failed to properly manage the prenatal care of the woman. The Plaintiff tested positive for Rh Disease, and Dr. Socol was referred to her as being a specialist in the medical management of Rh sensitized pregnancies. The complication of Rh sensitized pregnancies presents significant risks to the unborn child of developing anemia, fetal hydrops, and brain damage. The medical management of pregnancies affected by Rh sensitization is primarily by way of blood tests done on a monthly basis to measure the antibody titers in the mother’s blood. Plaintiffs allege that that Dr. Socol failed to test her blood more frequently when her titers got to a critical level. The Plaintiffs also alleged that the standard of care obligated more invasive testing, such as amniocentesis, once the critical titer rises.
On April 23, 1996, the Plaintiff called Dr. Socol’s office reporting decreased fetal movement, a known symptom of fetal anemia and hydrops. It was at that time the Plaintiff was given erroneous medical advice by one of Dr. Socol’s nurses. The incorrect and negligent medical advice provided to her resulted in her staying at home for an additional day before she came in for her scheduled visit on April 24, 1996. At that time, it was noted that her baby had non-reassuring fetal heart tones.
An immediate admission to Northwestern Hospital diagnosed several fetal hydrops and a decision was then made to deliver her son by emergency c-section. The baby was born on April 24, 1996, with brain damage, fetal hydrops, and anemia.
The Plaintiffs claimed that the lack of adequate testing by Dr. Socol combined with the erroneous advice of his nurse allowed the baby's hydrops to advance to the point where irreversible brain damage occurred.
