The Nursing Standard of Care in Illinois: Rethinking the Wingo Exception in the Wake of \u3cem\u3eSullivan v. Edward Hospital\u3c/em\u3e

This note analyzes the current circuit split among Illinois courts over whether the same-license requirement for medical expert testimony applies to testimony about the standard of care for nurse-doctor communications. Part I traces the history of the problem by explaining the original same-license requirement, the Wingo exception for nurse-doctor communications, and the Illinois Supreme Court\u27s decision in Sullivan, which cast doubt on Wingo\u27s continued survival. Part II illustrates the nature of the circuit split by describing the lower courts\u27 three distinct interpretations of Sullivan. Finally, Part III argues that courts should apply Sullivan strictly and abandon the Wingo exception because this is the only approach that promotes fairness for nurse defendants and rightfully recognizes nursing as a distinct medical profession