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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Estate sues over alleged malpractice during surgery

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A woman's estate is suing over arterial bleeding during surgery that allegedly caused the her death.

Arleen Townsend, as administrator of the estate of Denedra Townsend, filed a complaint on June 29 in Cook County Circuit Court against Rush University Medical Center, doing business as University Neurosurgery; University Head and Neck Associates SC; and Drs. Lorenzo F. Munoz, Sumeet Ahuja, Richard W. Byrne, Demetrius K. Lopes, Jay M. Dutton and Marissa A. Le.

On July 15, 2013, the deceased came under the care of the defendants for a surgical procedure called a transphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor, the lawsuit states.

The defendants are cited for causing a tear of her left internal carotid artery and failing to follow proper technique to remove a surgical instrument that was entangled with the artery, control her arterial bleeding, adequately control the bleeding, and properly clip the artery.

As a result, the lawsuit states, Denedra E. Townsend died on July 18, 2013, as a result of hemispheric stroke and atrogenic carotid occlusion due to massive blood loss.

The plaintiff, citing 10 counts each of wrongful death and survival, seeks damages in excess of $500,000, plus costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Samuel E. Adam and Lisa M. Taylor of Henderson, Adam LLC in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L006635.

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