Bartlett family awarded millions in malpractice settlement

The family of a Bartlett woman who died earlier this year was awarded $4.5 million in a medical-malpractice settlement with Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Bernardica Saric was first treated to remove a polyp in her colon in 2000. She developed a postoperative infection and was readmitted. According to attorney David Axelrod, the infection was diagnosed as E. coli, but Saric was treated with antibiotics that E. coli was resistant to and released. The infection developed into sepsis resulting in a heart attack and multi-organ failure.

"Over the last nine years of her life, Bernardica suffered greatly," said a release issued by Axelrod's law office.

The settlement was awarded to her widowed husband, Andjelko Saric, and her five adult children. A malpractice case is still pending against a physician in the case.