A man's estate is suing his health care providers over undiagnosed asthma which allegedly led to his death.
Rosanna Campana, as administrator for the estate of Idilio Campana, filed a complaint on June 18 in Cook County Circuit Court against Advocate Healthcare Network, doing business as Advocate Health Care; Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp., doing business as Advocate Lutheran General Hospital; and Drs. Morris Mauer; Melissa Marinelli, Audrey Sanford, Ramona Zak, Dena Hamad, Victor Chan, Joshua Zavitz and Steve Christos, and nurse Beata Hiermann.
On March 27, 2014, the lawsuit states, Idilio Campana was examined by Christos at Presence Resurrection Medical Center for complaints of shortness of breath and wheezing. He was diagnosed with an acute bronchospasm and discharged with an albuterol inhaler and orders to avoid Ibuprofen. On April 17, 2014, he was examined by Zavitz at Presence with gastroesophageal reflux disorder and was prescribed Maalox and Prilosec.
On May 11, 2014, Campana was seen by Chan at Presence complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain for two to three months. He was assessed for having suspected asthma, though he was diagnosed with an obstructive airway disease.
On Aug. 21, 2014, Campana was examined at Loyola Medical Center by Hamad, complaining of shortness of breath and wheezing. As usual, the lawsuit states, he denied a history of asthma, and he was diagnosed with wheezing and allergic rhinitis.
On Sept. 10, 2014, Campana was examined by Zak at Loyola, who ordered pulmonary function testing and told him to continue use of Ibuprofen. On Sept. 24, 2014, Campana was back at Loyola, as instructed, for more testing; however, the test was not performed since he arrived late.
On Nov. 20, 2014, the lawsuit states, Campana went to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's emergency department, with wheezing, extreme shortness of breath and chest pain. Marinelli and Sanford examined him and administered standard treatments for the exacerbation of asthma; however, those treatments failed, and he was admitted to the hospital, diagnosed with asthma exacerbation.
The next day, the lawsuit states, Mauer examined him and noted that no prior testing had been performed to rule out asthma. At the same time, he was administered 30 milligrams of Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol) and, minutes later, suffered respiratory arrest that led to his death on Nov. 28, 2014, when he was removed from life support.
The plaintiff, citing wrongful death and survival action, seeks in excess of $1 million in damages, plus costs. The plaintiff is represented by Patrick F. Bradley Ltd. in Northbrook.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L006169.