Chicago Approves $1.75M Ambulance Case Settlement

Feb. 15--The Chicago City Council today approved a $1.75 million settlement with the family of a 13-year-old girl who died a decade ago after city paramedics allegedly botched her care amid an asthma attack.

Paramedics in July 2002 incorrectly inserted a tube meant to help Arielle Starks breathe, said Jeffrey Levine, deputy corporation counsel.

The trip to Advocate Trinity Hospital was delayed for 16 minutes by a crash when another car tried to beat the ambulance through an intersection at 87th Street and Langley Avenue, Levine said. During that period, the girl suffered a heart attack, he added.

Another ambulance had to be dispatched to take her to the hospital, because state law and city procedure dictated the ambulance not leave the scene, even though no one was hurt in the accident, Levine said.

The girl was declared dead at the hospital, where a doctor discovered the error with the tube, he said.

hdardick@tribune.com

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