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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lumbar puncture allegedly resulted in nerve damage to Centegra Health-McHenry patient

Healthcare

CHICAGO — A woman is suing a McHenry hospital and an emergency room physician over allegations that the doctor's negligence resulted in nerve damage.

Heather Howerton filed a complaint on Feb. 17 in Cook Circuit Court against Northern Illinois Medical Center, which does business as Centegra Hospital-McHenry; Dr.  Anna Loughlin; and Centegra Primary Care LLC, alleging that they knowingly failed to properly perform a medical procedure.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff went to the emergency room at Centegra Hospital-McHenry on Feb. 17, 2014 complaining of neck stiffness, pain, a red chest rash and a low-grade temperature. Loughlin allegedly punctured Howerton's skin, and the underlying tissue and nerves more than 20 times trying to perform a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. 

Five days later, Howerton returned to the ER complaining of  lower back pain and leg numbness, according to the suit. She was later diagnosed with extensive nerve damage allegedly caused by Loughlin's negligence while attempting to perform the lumbar puncture.

Howerton is seeking compensation in excess of $50,000. She is represented by James A. Karamanis of Barney & Karamanis, LLP in Chicago.

Cook Circuit Court Case number 2016-L-001692

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