Neurosurgery patient lodges negligence claim against Advocate, doctor

A man is suing a group of medical providers, claiming the negligence of his neurosurgeon led to permanent injury.

Damian Winiarski filed a lawsuit July 28 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation, doing business as Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp., doing business as Advocate Medical Group and Dr. John Song.

According to the complaint, Winiarski underwent a two-stage cervical decompression and fusion surgery by Song, a neurosurgeon, on July 30, 2012. Song, the suit states, determined Winiarksi wasn't prepared for the second phase that day.

Winiarski claims Song performed the second phase on Aug. 6, 2012, via posterior approach again, but failed to stabilize the fusion anteriorly, causing permanent injury.

He is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Bradley Z. Schulman of Motherway & Napleton in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L007864.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court. 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.