Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 531]

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BOARD OF T R U S T E E S

[February 21

President Forsyth announced that an executive session had been requested to consider matters of pending litigation. Mr. Lenz left the meeting at this time to return later as indicated.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The board considered the following items of business.

Litigation Initiated by Primrose Reynolds

(1) A complaint has been filed in the Illinois Court of Claims (Case No. 80 CC 1130) by Primrose Reynolds, a former patient at the University of Illinois Hospital. The named defendants are the University and the State of Illinois. The complaint alleges that on May 3, 1979, in connection with a surgical procedure performed on the complainant at the University of Illinois Hospital, she was given a general anesthetic through an endotracheal tube and that as a result of the University negligently performing that procedure, she suffered a perforated esophagus. She seeks recovery of monetary damages in the amount of $200,000. The university counsel has recommended that he be authorized to take such steps as are necessary or appropriate, including the employment of special counsel, to defend the action. I concur.

On motion of Mr. Howard, authority was given as recommended by the following vote: Aye, Dr. Donoghue, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Neal, Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Stone, Mr. Velasquez; no, none; absent, Mr. Lenz, Governor Thompson. (The student advisory vote was: Aye, Mr. Grady, Mr. Sobotka; no, none; absent, Miss Wyncott.)

Litigation Initiated by Monica Wheelock and Jeffrey Wheelock, her Husband

(2) A complaint has been filed in the Illinois Court of Claims (Case No. 80 CC 1106), by Monica Wheelock and Jeffrey Wheelock (her husband), seeking recovery of $100,000 for alleged negligent and improper surgical procedures performed at the University of Illinois Hospital. The named defendants are the State of Illinois, the University of Illinois Hospital, the Medical Center Commission, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, and Dr. Darryl Townsend. The complaint alleges that on or about April 24, 1979, an abdominal hysterectomy was performed on Mrs. Wheelork at the University of Illinois Hospital by Dr. Darryl Townsend. The claimant now asserts that there was negligence or impropriety in connection with that surgical procedure and seeks monetary damages. The university counsel has recommended that he b ; authorized to take such steps as are necessary or appropriate, including the employment of special counsel, to protect the interests of the University in this matter, to defend the a t o n and to provide representation for members of the University staff w i n request the same, all in accordance with the University's risk management and self-insur?nce program. I concur. O n m o t i o n of M r . N e a l , a u t h o r i t y w a s given as r e c o m m e n d e d by t h e following v o t e : Aye, D r . D o n o g h u e , M r . F o r s y t h , M r . H a h n , M r . H o w a r d , M r . Neal, M r s . Shepherd, M r . Stone, M r . Velasquez; no, n o n e ; absent, M r . Lenz, Governor Thompson.