Failure To Diagnose Leads To $12 Million Malpractice Verdict

On behalf of Hastings Law Firm P.C. posted in Failure to Diagnose Law Firm in Texas on Tuesday, October 27, 2015.

People across the country, including in Texas, expect to be cared for in an appropriate way if they develop health problems that need specialized medical care. The surviving family of a 49-year-old father of three was recently awarded $12 million when a state appeals panel upheld a prior medical malpractice verdict. The case involved the failure to diagnose a rare blood disease, and when it was ultimately diagnosed, treatment was delayed.

According to court documents, the otherwise healthy man developed unusual symptoms at the beginning of Oct. 2009. Upon consulting with doctors, he was diagnosed with anxiety, and he was prescribed medication to treat that condition. Just over three weeks later, he was rushed to the hospital because his symptoms became significantly worse. It affected his speech, and he experienced paralysis of the left side of his face and his left arm. Doctors then diagnosed him with TTP, which is a rare blood disease that can be fatal if not immediately treated with a procedure called plasmapheresis.

This procedure is provided by a specialized medical contractor, and it was ordered as a matter of emergency. However, although the nurse who provides this treatment was informed of the urgency at 4:42 p.m., she only arrived at the hospital at approximately 11 p.m. It was later determined that she stopped to provide treatment to a non-emergency case and then went to her residence before reporting to the hospital at which the dying man was waiting for the emergency treatment. This proved to be too late, as the man passed away about 40 minutes later.

All the professionals and the medical facilities involved in this man’s treatment were named as defendants in the medical malpractice claim alleging failure to diagnose and delayed treatment. While the monetary judgment will not change the sad circumstances with which the family has to cope, it will certainly provide relief to ease the financial and emotional burdens. The Houston medical malpractice attorneys at the Hastings Law Firm have over a decade of experience handling personal injury cases within the medical industry and across the state of Texas. Texas residents who have lost loved ones in similar circumstances may pursue financial relief by filing medical malpractice claims, but because such litigation can be tricky, it may be wise to retain the services of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Source: cookcountyrecord.com, “Appeals panel upholds $12 million malpractice verdict for family of man who died while waiting 6 hours for emergency blood treatment”, Jonathan Bilyk, Oct. 23, 2015