Alzheimer’s Acceleration Allegedly Linked to Antibiotic

Verdict: Not Guilty

Date: March 2011

County: Cook

PLTF Medical: Dr. Phillip B. Gorelick (Neurologist)

PLTF Experts: Dr. Finley W. Brown, Jr. (Family Practice)

DEF Experts: Dr. Andrew B. Repasy (Geriatrics) and John P. Flaherty (Infectious Disease)

Summary: Plaintiff underwent total right knee replacement and was given intravenous Clindamycin. Plaintiff was soon transferred to a nursing home for rehab. Seven days later Plaintiff developed a fever and was prescribed Levaquin and tests were ordered. Tests revealed that Plaintiff was positive for C. difficile infection and she was transferred back to the hospital. Plaintiff asserted that all of this led to the acceleration of her pre-existing Alzheimer’s dementia. Defense asserted that Plaintiff’s disease was already rapidly advancing and would have progressed to severe dementia in approximately the same period of time regardless of the C.difficile infection. Nursing home settled prior to trial.

Category: Medical Malpractice, Neurological Injuries, Nursing Home Injuries, Psychological Injuries