Chicago Hospital Pays $20 Million Settlement After Misdiagnosing Patient

When a patient visits the doctor’s office or hospital, they usually trust the physicians there to provide them with correct information. Whether it be a diagnosis, a test, or an operation, people expect the professionals to make the right decisions and follow the appropriate procedures. One seemingly minor mishap can endanger a patient’s life, and leave them in a worse condition than they were before. This happened in the case of a Chicago attorney who was misdiagnosed at his local hospital, leaving him with brain damage a lifetime full of hospital visits.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Christopher Zinski went to Northwestern Central DuPage Hospital with symptoms of a headache, vomiting, neck pain, and disorientation. The physician, who was a family friend, downplayed the symptoms suggesting that he was probably suffering from a dehydration headache and that he would be fine after being given pain medication and an IV. Just two days later, coworkers found Zinski slumped over his desk after having a stroke caused by a brain aneurysm. His heart stopped twice before being transported to a local medical center.

The husband and father of four has spent nearly two years in rehabilitation therapy and five months in the hospital. The stroke caused him to suffer severe memory loss and cognitive dysfunction, leaving him to have to learn basic tasks like speaking, swallowing and walking all over again. Zinski’s condition has been devastating for his loved ones and coworkers. He was a partner at his firm who loved to network with clients and friends. He had flourishing relationships with everyone around him. Now, he can’t retain any new information for longer than five minutes.

His wife, Pattie Zinski believes that the hospital could have done more to prevent these circumstances. The lawsuit she filed claims that if staffers would have administered a CT scan, they could have detected that his symptoms were common for patients who’ve suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – “bleeding in the space between the brain and the tissue that covers it.” The survival rates for this type of medical condition are low, Zinski was lucky to have survived.

Although, no amount of money will turn back time and return things to the way they were, the $20 million settlement will be used to cover around-the-clock care, new experimental treatments, and ensure financial security for Zinski’s children.

Unfortunately, cases like Zinski’s happen far too often. A new study conducted by John Hopkins Medical Team concluded that medical malpractice is considered the third leading cause of deaths in the country. Researchers say that medical mishaps are nationally under-recognized and not formally acknowledged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you’ve been injured as a result of the negligence of a medical professional in Maryland, Pennsylvania or Washington D.C, you could be entitled to compensation. Attorneys Charles Gilman and Briggs Bedigian are dedicated to getting you the best results possible. Call their office at (866) 849-9899 or contact them online.