Palos Community Hospital sued for malpractice

A couple is alleging a hospital failed to properly treat the wife's abdominal injuries, which required her to undergo multiple surgeries and and resulted in infections.

Martha Sutalo and Drago Sutalo filed a lawsuit Nov. 27 in Cook County Circuit Court against Palos Community Hospital, Palos Community Hospital Home Health Care, doing business as Palos Home Health Care and Dr. Daniel A. Pacella, citing medical malpractice and loss of consortium.

According to the complaint, Martha was a patient at Palos Community Hospital from Nov. 29, 2011 to Dec. 16, 2011, and from Jan. 4, 2012, to Jan. 21, 2012. They claim that after Martha's surgical procedure on Nov. 29, her abdomen was sutured improperly and she was not given an abdominal binder.

The suit states that on Dec. 3, she learned that she suffered a wound dehiscence and underwent surgery to repair the problem. The plaintiffs claim that between Dec. 16 and Jan. 4, Martha's abdomen was negligently and improperly cleaned and monitored by the defendants while in their care.

On Jan. 4, the complaint alleges that Martha learned she suffered necrotic edges to the abdominal wound, further dehiscence and an infection that required multiple surgeries.

The Sutalos are seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and are being represented in the case by attorney Paul G. O'Toole of Salvato & O'Toole.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L013626.

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