Surgical Mistake Costs Cook County $35 Million

By Brittany Golledge

Published on October 04, 2005

The suit was filed on behalf of Neveen Morkos, a mother of two who underwent emergency surgery after doctors misdiagnosed a viral condition as appendicitis. Morkos was transported to Oak Forest Hospital, a county-run hospital, in May of 2004 after complaining of stomach cramps. She was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and scheduled for an appendectomy.

Dr. Gustavo Albear, a 78-year-old anesthesiologist, initially prepared her for surgery. Albear began by inserting a breathing tube through her nose. Because it was not properly secured, the tube soon dislodged, and for almost 12 minutes Morkos was deprived of oxygen. She later went into cardiac arrest and suffered extensive brain injuries.

A County Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5th to discuss paying out the settlement, which would be one of the largest medical malpractice settlements ever recorded in Cook County.

The settlement will likely be approved and the county is expected to pay approximately $20 million of the $35 million settlement; insurance carriers will cover the remainder. Morkos' family says the money will go towards buying a new house and securing in-home care.

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