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Laws-info.com » Cases » Illinois » 2nd District Appellate » 1998 » Chadwick v. Al-Basha
Chadwick v. Al-Basha
State: Illinois
Court: 2nd District Appellate
Docket No: 2-97-0224
Case Date: 03/19/1998
                              No. 2--97--0224               
________________________________________________________________
                                     
                                  IN THE

                        APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
________________________________________________________________

BRENDA L. CHADWICK,                  )  Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                     )  of Winnebago County.
     Plaintiff-Appellant,            )
                                     )  
v.                                   )  No. 96--L--185
                                     )
IMAD AL-BASHA,                       )  Honorable
                                     )  Galyn W. Moehring,
     Defendant-Appellee.             )  Judge, Presiding.
________________________________________________________________

     PRESIDING JUSTICE GEIGER delivered the opinion of the court:
     The plaintiff, Brenda Chadwick, appeals from the January 23,
1997, order of the circuit court of Winnebago County dismissing her
complaint with prejudice.  In her complaint, the plaintiff sought
damages against the defendant, Imad Al-Basha, for violations of
sections 2--108 and 2--109 of the Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Code (the Mental Health Code) (405 ILCS 5/2--108, 2--
109 (West 1996)).  The trial court dismissed the complaint after the
plaintiff failed to file the supporting attorney s affidavit and
physician s report required by section 2--622 of the Code of Civil
Procedure (the Code) (735 ILCS 5/2--622 (West 1996)).  On appeal,
the plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in concluding that
her complaint was predicated upon medical malpractice and that she
was therefore obligated to comply with the requirements of section
2--622(a) of the Code.  We agree with the plaintiff and reverse and
remand the cause for further proceedings.
     The following facts are taken from the plaintiff s complaint. 
In June 1994, the plaintiff was being treated as a voluntary patient
at the Singer Mental Health and Developmental Center (Singer) in
Rockford.  The defendant, a psychiatrist, was employed at Singer as
an independent contractor.  At some point during the plaintiff s
treatment, she was involuntarily transferred to another unit within
Singer.  As a result of this transfer, the plaintiff was placed
under the care of the defendant.
     After the transfer, the plaintiff s treatment plan was revised
to include several new restrictions including the loss of telephone
privileges and a prohibition against visitors.  The plaintiff
refused to sign the new treatment plan because she disagreed with
the new restrictions.  During an emotional discussion between the
plaintiff and her therapist about the revised treatment plan, the
plaintiff broke a window.
     After this incident, the defendant verbally ordered the
plaintiff into seclusion.  After the plaintiff was in seclusion, she
was ordered to remove her jewelry.  While removing her jewelry, the
plaintiff complained to staff members about her displeasure in
having to do so.  The defendant observed this exchange between the
plaintiff and the staff members and verbally ordered that the
plaintiff be placed in restraints.  The defendant further ordered
that the plaintiff was to remain in restraints until she was calm
for one hour and until she agreed to comply with the revised
treatment plan.  Approximately 1

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