FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meyers & Flowers Files Lawsuit Against Central Illinois Hospital Following Fatal Misdiagnosis
La Salle, Illinois (January 2025) – Meyers & Flowers, a leading personal injury law firm, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OSF Saint Paul Medical Center and its physician along with Central Illinois Radiological Associates on behalf of their client’s estate, whose life was tragically cut short after a fatal misdiagnosis. The lawsuit alleges that a failure to properly diagnose and treat an aortic dissection led to the 28-year-old’s death in May of 2023.
On the morning of April 27, 2023, our client sought medical attention at OSF Saint Paul Mendota Emergency Room after experiencing chest pain, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, and other alarming symptoms. He reported that these issues had persisted for two days and were so severe that he was unable to drive home from work. Despite presenting with an elevated heart rate, an abnormal d-dimer level, and symptoms consistent with aortic dissection, he was misdiagnosed with acute pericarditis and discharged the same day.
A CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) of our client’s chest, conducted that morning, showed clear evidence of an aortic dissection. However, the imaging report, authored by the hospital’s radiologist, failed to identify this life-threatening condition. Instead, our client was sent home with instructions to take over-the-counter pain medications. Tragically, just four days later, our client was found unresponsive by his wife, despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead.
The Bureau County Coroner’s autopsy report confirmed that our client died from cardiac tamponade and a ruptured aortic dissection—conditions that would have been treatable if properly diagnosed.
“This case is a devastating example of how critical errors in medical care can have irreversible consequences,” said Craig Brown, founding partner at Meyers & Flowers. “Our firm is committed to ensuring that our client receives justice and that systemic changes are made to prevent tragedies like this in the future.”
Attorney Jim McPhedran, who has served families in the Illinois Valley for over three decades, added: “What happened to this family is a tragedy that should never have occurred. Patients trust their doctors and hospitals to make the correct diagnoses. When that trust is broken, families suffer unimaginable losses. We’re here to hold those responsible accountable.”
The lawsuit alleges that the hospital and its physicians failed to provide the standard of care by neglecting to:
- Recognize and act on clear indications of an aortic dissection in imaging results.
- Properly diagnose and treat our client’s condition.
- Take appropriate measures to prevent his discharge without adequate care.
The legal team at Meyers & Flowers—led by Craig Brown, James McPhedren, and Nicholas Flowers—is committed to uncovering the full extent of negligence that led to our client’s death. The firm aims to shed light on the systemic issues in emergency medical care and radiological interpretation that contributed to this catastrophic outcome.
Attorney Nick Flowers, also representing the family, stated: “We hope this lawsuit not only brings justice for our client but also serves as a wake-up call for healthcare providers to prioritize accuracy and diligence in patient care. These errors are preventable, and patients deserve better.”
The trial lawyers at Meyers & Flowers have earned a reputation for relentlessly pursuing justice for people who have been seriously injured or killed by wrongful conduct. If you or a loved one has experienced negligent medical care, we want to hear from you. Call our St. Charles office at 630-576-9696 or our Peru office at (815) 223-0230 for your free, no obligation case evaluation or click here.
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About Meyers & Flowers
Led by Illinois Top 100 Super Lawyer and former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Peter J. Flowers, the Meyers & Flowers’ team of experienced trial attorneys routinely take on large challenges and succeed. For more than two decades, the firm has represented clients both locally in Chicago and nationally in a full spectrum of cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, sexual abuse, medical malpractice, product liability and corporate litigation. Contact us today at 630-576-9696 for your free, no obligation case evaluation or click here.