Willis v. Khatkhate, M.D.

              SIXTH DIVISION
April 27, 2007
Nos. 1-05-3034 and 1-06-0726
NADINE WILLIS, Individually and as Independent ) Appeal from the
Administrator of the Estate of CLARENCE WILLIS, II, ) Circuit Court of
Deceased, ) Cook County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellant. ) No. 05 L 6198
) formerly 00 L 13221
NANDINI KHATKHATE, M.D., REBECCA WILLIAMS, )
M.D., LEO GERARDO, M.D., BARRY WENIG, M.D., ) Honorable
SUSAN SQUIRES, F.N.P., COUNTY OF COOK d/b/a ) Jeffrey Lawrence,
COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL, PETHAN ) Judge Presiding.
MUTHUSWAMY, M.D., and PRATIBA SANSI, M.D., ))
Defendants-Appellees. )
PRESIDING JUSTICE FITZGERALD SMITH delivered the opinion of the court:
In this medical malpractice case, plaintiff, Nadine Willis, individually and as independent
administrator of the estate of Clarence Willis II, deceased, appeals the granting of summary
judgment and dismissal in favor of defendants, Nandini Khatkhate, M.D., Rebecca Williams,
M.D., Leo Gerardo, M.D., Barry Wenig, M.D. Susan Squires, F.N.P. (UIC defendants); Cook
County Hospital, Petham Muthuswamy, M.D., and Pratiba Sansi (Cook County defendants). We
affirm in part, reverse in part, vacate in part and the cause is remanded for further proceedings.
During the summer of 1996, decedent went to the University of Illinois at Chicago
Hospital (UIC) to be treated for a lump on his neck. On or about June 17, 1996, decedent saw
defendant nurse Susan Squires, who was supervised by the “physician of the day,” defendant Dr.
Nandini Khatkhate. Nurse Squires worked in collaboration with the physician of the day and
could handle most routine matters. Nurse Squires reviewed the decedent’s history, took her own