CHICAGO – The mother of a Cook County woman has filed a wrongful death suit against the operators of a dialysis center.
Janette Watkins, as special administrator of the estate of Heather Crutchfield, filed a complaint on Nov. 19 in Cook County Circuit Court against Villagehealth DM LLC; physician Nicole Stankus; and the University of Chicago Medical Center, alleging wrongful death and medical malpractice.
According to the complaint, on Nov. 19, 2016, Crutchfield was brought to Villagehealth DM's Davita-Stony Island Dialysis facility in Chicago and Stankus was assigned to care and treat her. The suit states when Crutchfield's treatment was stopped that day, she experienced issues with her blood pressure and heart rate. The plaintiff alleges she transported Crutchfield to a hospital that evening and she died the same day. The suit states that autopsy documents found the cause of death was dialysis-related fluid overload.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to call 911 and transfer the patient to a hospital in a timely manner, and failed to notify her physician of any changes in her condition.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendants of more than $50,000, plus costs of action and further relief. She is represented by Stephan D. Blandin and Rebecca E. Neubauer of Romanucci & Blandin LLC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-L-12538