The widow and children of a Chillicothe, Illinois man who died four years ago were recently awarded $1.6 million by a Peoria County jury.
The award came after a three-week medical malpractice trial and 10 hours of jury deliberation over three days. Eventually, the jury found one doctor and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center liable for Donald McIntyre’s death in September 2009. However, St. Francis employees and a charged resident were not found negligent regarding McIntyre’s care.
McIntyre was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia when he visited St. Francis on September 6, 2009. The condition causes red blood cells to be destroyed, limiting the oxygen that can be distributed through the body. According to the lawsuit, the proper treatment for the condition is a blood transfusion and administration of steroids, but the procedures were not followed properly. The complaint alleged that McIntyre received only two units of blood, which were not enough to stabilize his condition. He died of cardiac arrest.
The hospital has released a statement expressing its condolences to the family and saying that it agreed with the jury’s finding that OSF employees were not negligent. The hospital said it was reviewing its options in regard to the finding that the hospital was the apparent principal of the doctor who was found negligent.