Little Company of Mary Hospital, doctors sued after patient dies

The administrator of a woman's estate is suing over complications the now-deceased woman had after surgery.

Davina Thompson, as independent administrator of the Estate of Denise Thomas, filed a lawsuit Oct. 28 in Cook County Circuit Court against Dr. Sujal Desai, Dr. Scott Choi and Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers.

According to the complaint, on and prior to Sept. 25, 2012, Denise Thomas was under the care of Dr. Desai and Dr. Choi at the Little Company of Mary Hospital.

On Sept 25, 2012, the suit states that Thomas was scheduled to undergo surgical repair of her left rotator cuff and that prior to surgery, both of the doctors learned that she had a history of sleep apnea.

The complaint alleges that after the procedure, Thomas experienced long periods of apnea  and needed constant stimulation to breath. She was discharged by both doctors on Sept. 25 and died on Sept. 26, according to the suit.

The plaintiff alleges that the doctors failed to perform the procedure on an inpatient basis and failed to admit Thomas to the hospital when she exhibited sleep apnea after surgery.

Thompson is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and is represented in the case by attorneys at Pfaff, Gill & Ports Ltd.

Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2013L011866.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.