Clifford Law Offices Obtains $6 Million Settlement for Woman Who Has Healthy Breast Removed After Slide Mix-Up
Press Release, 03/04/2008 Robert Clifford and Keith Hebeisen, partners at Clifford Law Offices, obtained a $6 million settlement on behalf of a New Lenox mother of two who was severely disfigured after having a healthy breast unnecessarily removed by doctors because of negligence by a lab technician.
Molly Akers, 33, had a mastectomy after doctors recommended she have her right breast and 24 lymph nodes removed in Feb., 2005, because of a diagnosis of occult breast cancer. Unbeknownst to Molly, a laboratory technician at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health Systems had negligently labeled her normal pathology slides with the name of another woman who did have cancer. It was based upon the incorrect path results that the doctors had diagnosed cancer.
Just days later, medical personnel discovered the negligence and told Akers. Since then, she has suffered through multiple reconstructive surgeries and emotional trauma.
“This never should have happened if basic procedures were properly followed,” Clifford said following the settlement. “They need to realize that their tasks can mean the matter of life and death, and their negligence carries consequences that can change an entire family’s life.”
Akers, a mother of two young children, was a part-time fitness trainer at the time of the incident.
The Defendant hospital had admitted liability, a settlement was reached after mediation with Judge Donald P. O’Connell, and the settlement was approved by the University of Chicago on February 22, 2008.
