Elizabeth Horan, a patient who suffered severe injuries during childbirth, has filed a lawsuit against her obstetrician and the medical institutions involved in her care. The complaint was filed on April 10, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois by Elizabeth Horan against Dr. Timothy Garvey, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare doing business as Northwestern Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The case revolves around events that transpired on September 13, 2024, when Elizabeth Horan underwent a planned induction under the care of Dr. Timothy Garvey at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. According to the complaint, Dr. Garvey and the hospital staff failed to exercise reasonable care in administering high doses of Pitocin—a medication used to induce labor—despite Horan's history of a previous cesarean section in 2022 for twins. This negligence allegedly led to a posterior uterine rupture requiring an emergency hysterectomy.
Horan's legal team argues that both Dr. Garvey and the hospital breached their duty of care by not recognizing signs of potential uterine rupture and failing to perform a timely cesarean section. The complaint states that "carelessly and negligently authorized 40 units of Pitocin" were administered without proper appreciation for the risks involved given Horan's medical history. As a result, Horan endured significant physical pain and mental anguish and faces ongoing medical expenses.
The plaintiff seeks damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant along with costs associated with the lawsuit. Her attorney, Stephanie B. Rubin from Rubin & Machado Ltd., emphasizes that there is substantial evidence supporting claims of medical malpractice based on consultations with health professionals knowledgeable about obstetrics/gynecology standards.
In this case presided over by Judge Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (Case ID: 2025L004937), Elizabeth Horan demands accountability for what she describes as preventable errors during her labor process—a situation compounded by inadequate counseling regarding potential risks associated with high-dose Pitocin use after prior cesarean delivery.