St. Alexius Medical Center Malpractice & Violations

Federal, state, and non-governmental organizations carefully track patient outcomes to ensure that hospitals adhere to the best safety and quality practices. A history of violations and deficiencies can put patients at risk of serious harm, even death.

Those who suffer from medical negligence at St. Alexius Medical Center or other hospitals can seek compensation for their injuries. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers specializes in holding healthcare organizations accountable and recovering compensation for victims, ensuring they recover comfortably.

About St. Alexius Medical Center

Overview

St. Alexius Medical Center is at 1555 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. This 318-bed hospital is a Level II Trauma Center that provides emergency care and specialty services.

This hospital’s practice areas include pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, genetic testing, cardiac rehabilitation, neurology, behavioral health, spinal care, and joint replacement surgery.

The hospital is a Joint Commission-certified primary stroke center with a Blue Cross Blue Shield distinction for bariatric conditions, including weight loss surgery.

Ownership and Affiliations

St. Alexius Medical Center is legally known as Ascension St. Alexius. It is part of the Ascension network, one of the country’s most prominent Catholic nonprofit hospital systems. Ascension operates approximately 136 hospitals in 19 states and the District of Columbia, including Alexian Brothers Hospital in nearby Elk Grove Village.

Reputation and Performance

This Hoffman Estates, IL, hospital has a 4-star overall rating and a 3-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which rates all hospitals and healthcare facilities that take government insurance [1].

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a nonprofit healthcare watchdog, gave St. Alexius Medical Center an above-average B in 2024 [2].

US News and World Report rated Ascension St. Alexis as high-performing in heart failure. However, it was below average in multiple conditions, including prostate cancer surgery and spinal fusion [3].

Notable Legal Actions Against St. Alexius Medical Center

Non-Consensual Drug Testing

On April 4, 2021, a woman known as Ms. F. came to Ascension St. Alexius at 34 weeks pregnant due to preeclampsia, a condition related to high blood pressure during pregnancy. Staff drew her blood and collected a urine sample, which Ms. F. assumed was to check for signs of preeclampsia.

Instead, the staff used the samples to perform drug tests. One of these returned positive, which Ms. F. insisted was due to eating a poppy seed cake during Easter celebrations before arriving at the hospital. Her child was born healthy via a C-section, and the baby showed no signs of drug withdrawal.

Despite no apparent indicators of drug abuse, the hospital called the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on Ms. F. and her husband after her child was born, requiring regular monitoring by the agency and not allowing her to remain home alone with the baby.

Along with the American Civil Liberties Union, Ms. F. filed a discrimination charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, alleging that the non-consensual drug testing without her knowledge was discriminatory [4].

Wrongful Death Due to Negligent Testing

While pregnant with twins in May 2013, Marilyn Perez suffered a ruptured teratoma on her left ovary. Teratomas are a rare tumor containing multiple tissue types and can be benign or cancerous. Perez had undergone fertility treatments, which required extensive testing, and none of the doctors noted any abnormalities at that time.

Upon giving birth to twins via Caesarian section in June 2013, it was discovered that the teratoma had metastasized and spilled its contents into her abdomen. Perez died from metastatic pelvis abdominal cancer approximately seven months after her children were born.

Her widower, Jesse Perez, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several doctors at St. Alexius Medical Center, including her obstetrician, Dr. Christopher Michael, and his practice, Suburban Women’s Health Specialists. Perez earned a $25 million settlement against Dr. Michael and Suburban Women’s Health [5].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at St. Alexius Medical Center

Only 67% of hospital staff received an influenza vaccine during the recent flu season, compared to the 88% Illinois average and 81% national average [6]. This can put vulnerable patients at risk of infections, especially if they have to stay in the hospital for an extended period.

St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, IL, also had a high rate of dangerous blood clots. The hospital’s blood clot rate was 5.81 per 1,000 cases, which is higher than the average-performing hospital’s rate of 3.61 per 1,000 cases [7].

Only 39% of patients stated that they understood their care plan when they left the hospital, compared to the 50% Illinois average and 52% national average [8]. Patients who don’t learn about their aftercare could experience complications, as they don’t have important information like how to change their dressings or take their medications.

This Hoffman Estate, IL, hospital had significantly worse outcomes for congestive heart failure patients. The adjusted death rate was 10.26 deaths per 1,000 cases, which is higher than the Illinois average [9].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence is when hospitals and their staff fail to uphold their duty of care to patients, such as ignoring best practices or not informing them of complications. This can lead to injury, longer recovery times, or even death.

Common types of hospital negligence include:

• Surgical Errors – Surgeons may operate on the wrong body part, fail to close incisions, or leave medical debris inside a wound after stitching it up, all of which can seriously injure a patient.
• Medication Errors – Overdosing a patient, giving them the wrong drug for their condition, or failing to provide adequate pain relief can cause discomfort and may kill a patient.
• Failure to Diagnose – Doctors must consider all possible conditions and order the proper tests to diagnose an issue. When they fail to consider a possible condition, a patient’s disease can worsen, potentially resulting in death.
• Improper Care – Doctors and nurses must ensure patients understand their treatment and aftercare. Failing to teach people about their diagnosis, ignoring their concerns, or giving them incorrect information are examples of improper care.

Those who have suffered medical negligence can seek help from an experienced attorney. Our team will thoroughly investigate the incident, examine your medical records, and speak to professionals. Then, we will negotiate with the hospital to receive a fair settlement.

While we can often settle cases out of court, it is sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit. If so, we will guide you through the litigation process and represent you before a judge and jury. We’ll provide a truthful narrative of the events that will demonstrate the harm done to you and your loved ones, supported by ample evidence.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The statute of limitations for medical negligence and malpractice in Hoffman Estates, IL, is two years from the date of injury, so you must act quickly.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a Chicago-based leading medical negligence law firm that advocates for victim rights nationwide. Our team has recovered millions in damages for clients, including against large organizations like Ascension Healthcare. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that clients don’t pay unless we successfully recover compensation.

To schedule a free consultation with a skilled lawyer, call us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757 or use our online consultation request form.

References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [2] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [3] US News and World Report, [4] American Civil Liberties Union, [5] Circuit Court of Cook County, [6] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [7] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [8] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [9] Illinois Hospital Report Card

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.