Doctors' failure to diagnose brain bleed led to man's death, estate executor says

A woman is suing a Palos Heights hospital and two of its doctors, claiming that their failure to diagnose a patient's brain bleed led to a fall that eventually caused his death.

Tessa McCain, as independent executor of the estate of the late Charles E. Von Schlutter, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Feb. 5 in Cook County Circuit Court against Palos Community Hospital and Drs. Michelle Kallenborn and Aparna Pai.

According to the complaint, Von Schlutter was admitted as a patient to Palos Community Hospital at 12251 S. 80th Ave., where he fell on March 12, 2013 and suffered cerebral injuries. McCain claims the defendants' failure to diagnose, test for and properly treat his brain bleed caused him to fall, which led to his March 28, 2013 death.

McCain seeks compensation for Von Schlutter’s pain and suffering, as well as compensation for his three surviving children, plus court costs. She is represented by Steven Berman and Brian Teven of Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L001223.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. 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 represents only one side of the story.