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Hospital Lost Butcher's Severed Finger, Suit Says

A Chicago hospital lost a man's severed left index finger, preventing it from being reattached and causing him to lose the use of the finger, according to a suit filed in Illinois court.

Butcher Pedro Acatitla partially amputated his left index finger at work May 27, 2006, according to the complaint filed in the Cook County Circuit Court.

He went to an emergency room with the severed portion of his finger packed in ice.

After hospital employees took the severed part of the finger, Acatitla was taken to the operating room for reattachment surgery, according to the complaint.

However, the fingertip was misplaced, it says.

Acatitla sued Advocate Christ Medical Center, alleging it breached the standard of care by misplacing the severed finger. He said the hospital negligently failed to keep the fingertip with or near him after he was admitted and to institute or enforce policies and procedures requiring that the severed finger remain with him.

Acatitla is seeking damages for the loss of the full use of his index finger, pain and suffering, medical expenses, missed work, and disfigurement.

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