By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – A stabbing victim’s family is suing Advocate BroMenn Medical Center claiming he may have survived if the hospital had given him adequate care.
Bruce Petersen, 68, and his wife Nancy suffered multiple stab wounds at the hands of their son in July 2016. Nancy Petersen died at the scene. An ambulance transported her husband to BroMenn.
The wrongful death lawsuit filed in McLean County Court by the Ginzkey Law Office alleged BroMenn did not have a cardiothoracic surgeon available within an hour to operate on Petersen for chest wounds, as required for a Level II trauma center.
A LifeFlight helicopter took Petersen to Peoria’s OSF St. Francis Medical Center where he died.
A judge found the couple’s son, Brian Petersen, not guilty by reason of insanity and he’s receiving in-patient mental health care.
Bruce Petersen’s estate seeks unspecified damages in excess of $50,000 from BroMenn. A court hearing is scheduled for January 4.
In a statement, a BroMenn executive Lisa Lesniak said it’s the hospital’s top priority to ensure the emergency department is adequately staffed to provide the highest quality care in the safest environment. The statement said BroMenn has resolved the issue with the Illinois Department of Public Health and continues to maintain the Level II trauma center designation.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
