A woman is suing over hypertension allegedly being overlooked during a trip to the emergency room.
Tramona Brown filed a complaint on June 26 in Cook County Circuit Court against VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., doing business as West Suburban Medical Center, doing business as Vanguard West Suburban Medical Center; Emergency Physicians Medical Group PC, and Drs. Rene Adrian and Alicia Skoog.
On July 12, 2013, Brown went to the West Suburban emergency room at 5:29 p.m. Her first blood pressure reading was 202/123; an hour later, at 6:45 p.m., it was 198/106. Complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain, she was administered 2 liters of oxygen, the lawsuit states, before being discharged with a blood pressure of 181/115, though she underwent an EKG that showed an enlarged left ventricle and allegedly couldn't sign her discharge instructions.
Three days later, Brown went to Mount Sinai Hospital, the lawsuit states, when was was diagnosed as suffering a left frontal intracranial hemorrhage.
The defendants are cited with negligence in failing to properly assess and treat Brown for drug withdrawal and hypertension; initiate anti-hypertensive treatment; initiate lab evaluation of her renal function, cardiac status and medication; warn her of her elevated blood pressure; instruct Brown in medication management; and document contacting her doctor about her vital signs.
The plaintiff, citing medical negligence, seeks damages in excess of $200,000, plus costs.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Douglas C. Dorn PC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L006552.