Insight Hospital Medical Center Chicago Malpractice & Violations

Performance ratings from government and nonprofit agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Public Health, help consumers know whether they will receive the best patient care at the facility.

Better grades suggest better outcomes, while violations are a warning sign that the hospital doesn’t honor its commitment to patients, putting them at risk of injury or death.

Those who have suffered medical negligence or malpractice at Insight Hospital and Medical Center can speak to a healthcare negligence attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. With a personal injury firm’s assistance, you can recover compensation and hold hospitals accountable for neglecting their patients.

About Insight Hospital and Medical Center

Overview

Insight Chicago serves the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood at 2525 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616. This 414-bed hospital offers emergency, primary care, and specialty care, and it claims to put “patient care second to none.”

Services available at Insight Hospital and Medical Center include pain management, cardiology, brain and spine care, behavioral health, oncology, neurology, general surgery, and stroke care. They also have a foot clinic, rehabilitation center, and wellness center meant to help the community live longer and healthier lives.

Ownership and Affiliations

Insight Hospital is legally known as Insight Hospital & Medical Center Chicago. Previously known as Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, it was acquired by Insight Chicago in 2021.

Insight Chicago is a Michigan-based nonprofit that manages Insight Hospital and Medical Center. The nonprofit does not own any other healthcare facilities. The hospital’s website notes that it is a religious 501(c)(3) charity based on universal Islamic teachings that include all faiths and non-faith communities [1].

Mercy Hospital and Medical Center sold the hospital to Insight Chicago with an agreement to continue operating it as a community-based, acute healthcare facility [2].

The agreement also required Insight Chicago to invest $50 million in the hospital within the first two years of operation [3]. These updates are geared toward expanding access to services and modernizing the building’s health care facilities.

Reputation and Performance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has given Insight Hospital and Medical Center 1-star quality and 2-star patient survey ratings, both below average [4].

US News and World Report ranks Insight Hospital as high-performing in two practice areas: heart failure and kidney failure. However, the same report lists it as below-average in colon cancer surgery, and it also provides less charity care for community residents than other hospitals [5].

Notable Legal Actions Against Insight Hospital and Medical Center

Inadequate Security Leads to Homicide

On November 19, 2018, pharmacy resident Dayna Less was exiting an elevator at the hospital, then known as Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, when she was shot and killed by Juan Lopez, the ex-fiance of a doctor at the hospital. Lopez also killed his former fiancee, Dr. Tamara O’Neal, and a Chicago police officer before being killed by police.

Less’s family filed a lawsuit against the hospital and its security company in November 2019, citing its failure to implement lockdown procedures to ensure public safety. Lopez was able to re-enter the hospital after killing his ex-fiancee in the parking lot, as no security staff had been posted at its doors.

The Chicago negligent security lawsuit was settled for $20 million in January 2024, setting a new record for a wrongful death settlement with no dependents [6].

Failed Hernia Surgery Resulting in Pain and Suffering

On May 21, 2018, with the help of a Chicago surgical error attorney, Kelly Ann Baker filed a lawsuit against the then-named Mercy Hospital and Medical Center for medical negligence. Baker arrived at the hospital seeking help for a ventral hernia, which occurs when internal organs extrude through the abdominal muscles.

Dr. Rami Lutfi failed to fix the hernia during the first surgery, which required Baker to undergo multiple revisions, and she subsequently sued for medical negligence [7].

Religious Restrictions Result in Medical Negligence

Melanie Jones fell in her home, dislodging her non-hormonal IUD. She visited a doctor at Insight Hospital, then known as Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, complaining of cramping and bleeding.

The unnamed gynecologist in the community confirmed that the IUD had been dislodged and would need to be removed.

However, the gynecologist stated that because it was a non-hormonal IUD whose only purpose was to prevent conception, she could not remove it due to Mercy Hospital’s religious restrictions, which do not allow doctors to provide contraception-related health services.

She also refused to refer Jones to a different physician, stating the physicians in her referral network would not help her due to religious exemptions.

Jones worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights on August 23, 2016, alleging sex-based discrimination [8].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Insight Hospital and Medical Center

This hospital had a slightly lower rate of preventative care for sepsis than the national and state average. Insight Hospital and Medical Center averages a 52% treatment rate, lower than the 60% Illinois average and 62% state average [9].

People spend approximately 193 minutes in the hospital’s emergency department before discharge, 25 minutes longer than the national average of 168 minutes [10].

This facility’s psychiatric unit outcomes are significantly worse than both the state and national averages on multiple points.

Only 10% of patients in the behavioral health unit have had preventative screenings like BMI screenings, blood pressure checks, glucose monitoring, and cholesterol checks in the year before admission. This is much lower than the 87% Illinois average and 79% national average [11].

Physical restraint rates in the psychiatric unit were almost twice as high as the national average. There were 0.62 hours of restraints per 1,000 hours of patient care compared to the 0.32 national average and 0.33 Illinois average [12].

None of the patients surveyed received a complete record of their psychiatric inpatient care and follow-up plans.

This 0% rate contrasts sharply with the 62% national average and 78% Illinois average, showing that the hospital is not prioritizing long-term support on a patient’s journey to mental wellness [13]. Other hospitals are likelier to have significantly better outcomes and not put patient care second.

The facility did not adequately follow up on patients released from the inpatient behavioral health unit. Only 20% of individuals received a follow-up within 30 days, which is very low compared to the 57.9% Illinois average and 60% national average [14].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence occurs when physicians do not adhere to standards of care for their medical specialty or when providing services. Ignoring or failing to meet best practices can endanger those under their care, especially regarding public health protocols like handwashing and disease prevention.

Common types of medical negligence include:

• Surgical Errors – Failing to close an incision, cutting an organ, or leaving a foreign object inside the person are sadly common examples of surgical errors.
• Medication Errors – The wrong medication or dosage can adversely impact a person’s health and does not treat the underlying issue.
• Improper Care – Physicians must support every patient by explaining their care, ensuring they understand aftercare instructions, and listening to their concerns with kindness. When nurses and other staff don’t take the time to teach their patients, they don’t have the skills necessary to care for themselves at home.
• Failure to Diagnose – A delayed diagnosis can have grave consequences, especially for serious conditions like cancer or heart disease. Failing to order the correct tests or misinterpreting diagnostic reports can seriously harm or kill a patient. It often results in a delay in life-saving services.

Those who have suffered medical negligence at Insight Hospital and Medical Center can seek compensation with a personal injury attorney in Chicago. We can hold physicians and hospitals accountable by thoroughly investigating the issue and negotiating on the patient’s behalf.

While securing a settlement without a lawsuit is often possible, a law firm can help if negotiations fail. Our lawyers will file a lawsuit and guide you through the legal process, including presenting your story to a judge and jury.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The medical negligence statute of limitations in Chicago, IL, is only two years from the date of the injury, so it is essential that you act quickly.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury law firm that fights for medical malpractice victims nationwide. Our team of experienced medical negligence lawyers works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay for our services unless we can secure a settlement.

To schedule your free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney in Chicago, call us at (888) 424-5757 or use our online consultation request form.

References: [1] Insight Chicago Hospital and Medical Center, [2] Chicago Sun-Times, [3] WBEZ, [4] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [5] US News and World Report, [6] Fox 32 Chicago, [7] Cook County Register, [8] American Civil Liberties Union, [9] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [10] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [11] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [12] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [13] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [14] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.