Fibromyalgia due to alleged PCA (Dilaudid) Overdose

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Counsel: Patricia J. Barker and Elizabeth E. Jaci
Demand: $250,000
Asked: None
Outcome: A mistrial was declared after seven days of trial due to the loss of a juror and plaintiff’s unwillingness to stipulate to a verdict from less than 12 jurors.

Plaintiff claimed fibromyalgia resulting from an episode of respiratory depression secondary to Dilaudid PCA overdose, post bladder sling surgery. Plaintiff’s friend was pushing the PCA pump every ten minutes so that her friend would not wake up in pain. It was alleged that the nurses instructed the friend to push the pump.

Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice three months later.