Government Appeals $8.6 Million Judgment in Illinois Malpractice Case

December 15, 2008

The U.S. government wants a federal judge in Illinois to trim his $8.6 million judgement over a former Scott Air Force Base doctor’s failure to properly treat a woman’s case of flesh-eating bacteria.

Federal Magistrate Judge Philip Frazier in East St. Louis ruled last month in favor of 36-year-old Jean Phillips.

Phillips was the wife of an Air Force captain stationed at Scott in 2002 when she sought treatment from Dr. Daniel MacAlpine for a rash on her right arm.

MacAlpine thought Phillips was an addict looking for prescription drugs and told her to go home and take Motrin. But the rash turned out to be so-called flesh-eating bacteria that Frazier says cost her the use of her right arm.

MacAlpine isn’t commenting.

Topics Illinois

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Latest Comments

  • March 27, 2009 at 3:17 am
    Dread says:
    Just how many cases in the total universe of patients seen by military doctors are you using to base your ignorant opinions on besides this one. Talk about a herd mentality. I... read more
  • December 16, 2008 at 9:31 am
    Ray says:
    -and by the way - $8.6 million seems like a case of going for the really deep pockets and not a reasonable judgement!
  • December 16, 2008 at 9:29 am
    Ray Margeson says:
    After 23 years in the military (Navy, too, wudchuck) and I can say that thee are good and bad doctors in the military just like ikn civilian life. Military doctors have it a l... read more

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