CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) –
Nurses are taking dozens of complaints about unsafe conditions at Jackson Park Hospital to Illinois’ Department of Public Health. The nurses said their complaints have been ignored for years.
One patient’s family said their daughter was ten weeks pregnant when she checked into Jackson Park Hospital. They claim she was misdiagnosed and it may have cost her her life.
Carmelita Nichols was just talking about motherhood with her 22-year-old pregnant daughter Constance Butler. However, that was before Butler checked into Jackson Park Hospital.
“When she got to the hospital she called me, ma, these people admitted me in a psych ward, and I said for what, and she said she don’t know,” said Nichols.
Nichols admits her daughter suffers from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia, but on March 19 she went to the hospital for stomach pains.
Nichol’s daughter was pronounced dead inside the hospital on March 27.
The Cook County Medical Examiner said the cause of death is pending test results.
“All we can do is pick up the pieces and hope better for other families that’s there at the hospital,” said Tanyeka Brown, Butler’s sister.
National Nurses United is aware of Constance Butler’s case.
Coincidentally on Thursday, the union plans to deliver more than 30 separate reports of unsafe staffing and dangerous patient conditions to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The union said their concerns have been ignored by Jackson Park Hospital’s administration.
“They can’t bring her back, but I want some issues resolved,” said Nichols in an interview with FOX 32’s Tisha Lewis.
National Nurses United said since 2013, Jackson Park Hospital nurses have reported dozens of incidents to management, only to be met with endless stalling and lack of action.
FOX 32’s Tisha Lewis reports National Nurses United represents 200 nurses at Jackson Park Hospital and more than 186,000 nurses nationwide.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said once it receives the reports that it will conduct its own investigation, which could involve federal authorities.
Jackson Park Hospital said Butler’s death is under investigation.
Source: Fox