A mother is suing a Chicago hospital and attending physician on behalf of her minor daughter, alleging medical malpractice in an obstetric delivery led to life-threatening maternal-fetal complications.
Alejandra Arteaga filed a lawsuit July 31 as mother and next friend of minor Kimberly Lopez against Dr. Tracy L. Vera and St. Anthony Hospital of Chicago in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging professional negligence in the 2007 incident.
According to the complaint, Vera was negligent in her failure to recognize and address fetal distress during Arteaga's labor Aug. 1, 2007, including failure to perform a timely emergency C-section, administer medication and otherwise avoid complications which the plaintiffs contend led to brain injury for the mother and/or baby.
The lawsuit states a C-section would have allowed the fetus to be delivered before the onset of anoxic brain damage and that the defendants failed to diagnose and treat suspected fetal macrosomia. The complaint states Kimberly suffered great pain and anguish and incurred excessive medical expenses.
As the mother and guardian of Lopez, the plaintiff invokes the Family Expense Act against both defendants.
Arteaga seeks more than $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorney Emilio Machado of Rubin Machado & Rosenblum in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007841.