A patient recovering from gastric bypass surgery is suing a health care group, alleging neglectful post-operative care caused him to develop a bed sore.
Joseph Knoch filed a lawsuit June 15 in Cook County Circuit Court against Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Alexian Brothers Health System, Amita Corp., Alexian Brothers-AHS Midwest Region Health Co., doing business as Amita Health and Amita Health Medical Group, Ascension Health - IS, Ascension Health Alliance and Ascension Health.
According to the complaint, on June 28, 2013, Knoch experienced an internal bleeding complication during a gastric bypass surgery while at the defendants' facility, 800 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village. The complication required a second surgery, the lawsuit states.
During his stay at the defendent's facility, from June 29 to July 10, the lawsuit says, Knoch wasn't turned as often as he should have been, causing him to develop a pressure ulcer on his sacrum. By time he was discharged, the lawsuit states, the ulcer measured 10-by-10-by-0.3 centimeters and was draining "copious amounts of red serous fluid with a significant odor."
The suit alleges the defendants neglected Knoch by failing to implement the right procedures to prevent the development of pressure ulcers, handle overweight patients properly to avoid ulcers, reposition Knoch to avoid ulcers, provide proper wound care for five days after discovering the ulcer, provide him with specialized medical equipment like a trapeze bed to facilitate his movement, turn or reposition him, investigate his repeated complaints, take precautions to prevent ulcers, properly monitor the plaintiff's health and provide him proper care.
As a result, the lawsuit states, the plaintiff continues to experience pain and suffering from a pressure ulcer and is sustaining medical expenses.
Knoch seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs. He is represented by The Deratany Firm in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L006047.