Crime & Safety
Doctor May Not Have Given Vaccinations Prior To Suicide: Sheriff
Cook County Sheriff says the late pediatrician's suicide note raises concerns whether patients were vaccinated at parents' request.
EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Cook County Sheriff’s Police have opened an investigation of vaccinations provided by an Evergreen Park pediatrician. The pediatrician’s former patients are being advised to consult with their current physicians to determine if their children have been vaccinated "out of an abundance of caution."
Dr. Van Koinis was a pediatric specialist based in Evergreen Park. He was found dead in his car of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sept. 10, 2019 in unincorporated Palos Township. Cook County Sheriff’s police said a suicide note found in Koinis’ car "raised questions about the record-keeping of vaccinations at his office."
Following Koinis’ death, parents complained on neighborhood Facebook groups of not being able to get their children’s medical records, which were in disarray. Evergreen Park Elementary District 124 emailed parents Tuesday advising former patients to check vaccination records and inquire about tests to determine if children were given certain vaccinations.
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Police said the suicide note raised concerns about who and who did not receive vaccinations due to "record keeping issues." Investigators also obtained information that suggests Koinis in some cases did not provide vaccinations to children at their parents’ request.
Koinis’s practice was located at 3830 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, and he primarily served patients on Chicago’s Southwest Side and from the near southwest suburbs. Koinis also saw patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park. Koinis had been a licensed pediatrician since 1991, according to state records.
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The Cook County Sheriff has set up a hotline where former patients may inquire about personal or family medical records at 630-670-1673. Anyone with further information about Dr. Koinis is asked to call Cook County Sheriff’s Police at 708-397-6366.
The investigation is open and the Illinois Department of Public Health has been notified.
Anyone who is struggling can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting HOME to 741741.
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