Patient alleges hemorrhage was misdiagnosed as migraine

A patient claims Anderson Hospital healthcare workers misdiagnosed a subarachnoid hemorrhage as a migraine.

Sara Valle and Matthew Valle filed a lawsuit on Dec.1 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mark A. Mason, M.D., Emily L. Hilton, PA-C., Anderson Hospital, Uptown Emergency Physicians, LLP, National Hospital Services Professional Corporation, doing business as Hospitalist and Emergency Services of Illinois, PC and Michael Adams, M.D.

The lawsuit alleges negligence, loss of consortium and respondent-in-discovery.

According to the suit, Sara Valle went to the emergency department at Anderson Hospital on Dec. 19, 2019, complaining of a headache, photophobia, nausea and vomiting. She told the defendants that her head pain was worse when standing and with light, saying the pain level was a 10 out of 10. She was put on an IV and given fluids and other medications to help. Valle was diagnosed with a migraine and discharged after Hilton completed a physical exam of the plaintiff. Mason signed off on the treatment and discharge. The next day, Valle went to Adams’ office at Gateway Medical Group for a follow-up. Then on Dec. 23, 2019, Valle went to Barnes Jewish Hospital with neurological deficits and was found to be suffering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left sylvian fissure. She was treated with coiling and a balloon angioplasty LICA.

As a result, Valle incurred medical expenses, lost wages, endured pain and suffering, suffered loss of her normal life and experienced severe emotional discomfort, the suit states.

The plaintiffs allege the defendants failed to properly examine and evaluate Valle, failed to recognize signs and symptoms of Valle’s condition, failed to recognize the severity of her condition, failed to properly review and appreciate the nursing records available, failed to make an appropriate diagnosis, failed to order proper diagnostic testing, failed to obtain proper consultations, inappropriately discharged Valle from the hospital, failed to admit her for observation and monitoring, failed to initiate proper treatments and failed to refer her to a specialist in neurology.

The Valle’s seeks a judgment for an amount in excess of $50,000, plus cost of suit.

This article was first published in Madison Record.

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