December 10 2007
$4 Million Settlement Reached in Cook County, Dentist Dies of Pulmonary Embolism
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Matthew L. Williams of the law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. announced a $4 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of the estate of a man who died as a result of a pulmonary embolism while a patient at Lutheran General Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois. The Honorable Judge M. Daniel LoCallo in Cook County (Illinois) approved the settlement in Kimberly Heath, Independent Executor of the Estate of Anton Urban v. Advocate Health and Hospital Corporation d/b under the assumed name of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, an Illinois Corporation, et al No. 04 L 920.
According to Attorney Matthew L. Williams, on November 9, 2002, Mr. Anton Urban suffered a pelvic and wrist fracture following an automobile accident. He was admitted to Lutheran General Hospital and identified by his doctors as a patient at high risk for the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to pulmonary embolism (PE).
Although medication was ordered by his doctors to reduce the risk of the DVT, the medication was held over a four-day period during his hospitalization. During this time, Plaintiff alleged that Mr. Urban developed blood clots in the vessels of his lower extremities. Unfortunately, no diagnostic study was performed after the medication was held to evaluate if clots formed during this gap in treatment. The clots eventually broke free, traveled into his lungs, and caused Mr. Urban’s death.
“Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of death in hospitalized patients. There are treatment measures and diagnostic tools available to the clinicians to reduce the risk or even prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. All patients at risk for deep vein thrombosis should strive to be part of the dialogue with their physicians about how to reduce the risk of a fatal pulmonary embolism,” said Matthew Williams.
Mr. Urban, 55, left surviving a wife of 29-years and four adult children. He was an avid outdoorsmen, loving father and husband, and partner in Anton E. Urban, D.D.S., Ltd, dental practice, with offices located in Antioch, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
