Lowe
A wrongful death suit set for trial Monday has settled.
Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth approved the settlements between plaintiff Sandra Monroe, administrator of her husband's estate, and Alton Memorial Hospital, Drs. Christopher Cruz, John Wuellner, Fairview Heights Medical Group and BC Illinois Emergency Physicians LLP. on March 1.
Sandra Monroe sued the defendants, claiming they failed to contact her husband, Jeffrey Monroe, after blood tests taken in the hospital's emergency room showed he had a staph infection. According to Monroe, the untreated infection killed her husband less than a week later.
Terms of the settlements were confidential, according to Ruth's orders approving them.
According to her complaint, Jeffrey Monroe first went the emergency room at Alton Memorial on Oct. 16, 2006. He complained of a fever, headache, stiff neck and cough.
Cruz treated him in the ER and ordered blood tests.
He allegedly diagnosed Jeffrey Monroe with pneumonia and flu, prescribing oral antibiotics.
After Jeffrey Monroe left the ER, the hospital allegedly received the blood test results showing that he had a staph infection.
Although the results were allegedly faxed to Wuellner, Jeffrey Monroe's doctor, his wife alleges that the hospital did not call Jeffrey Monroe to return for treatment of the staph infection.
He returned to the hospital two days later. His condition had worsened to include blood clots in his lungs and the infection worsened.
Jeffrey Monroe died from the staph infection Oct. 21, 2006.
His wife's suit sought damages in excess of $75,000.
The parties entered into mediation in February.
Monroe was represented by Jeffrey Lowe.
Alton Memorial was represented by Theodore MacDonald.
Cruz and BC Illinois were represented by Terese Drew.
James Hennelly represented Wuellner and the Fairview Heights group.
The case was Madison case number 07-L-962.