County To Pay $20M To Settle Lawsuit Over Boy's Brain Damage
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Cook County Board has approved a $20 million settlement for the family of a toddler who suffered severe brain damage after surgery at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, without a word of discussion or debate, county commissioners agreed to settle the medical malpractice lawsuit filed by the Justine Francique, whose son Keith suffered cardiac arrest after surgery at Stroger Hospital in December 2011 to repair an undescended testicle.
$20M Settlement In Brain Damage Lawsuit
It took five minutes before medical personnel to notice Keith's heart had stopped, and perform CPR.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said County Health & Hospitals CEO Dr. Ram Raju has taken steps to prevent a repeat of the mistake.
"There were disciplinary actions taken against a number of the individuals who were involved," she said.
Keith was left with irreversible brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
In addition to the settlement of Francique's lawsuit, commissioners approved three other settlements, amounting to an additional $4 million.
