Couple wins millions in medical malpractice case

There are few jobs where mistakes could cost someone’s life. While most people recognize that everyone is human, lives are lost when medical professional make mistakes. Patients assume that their doctors will explore every possibility and recommend care that is in line with symptoms that are displayed. However, Maryland patients may be interested in the outcome of a medical malpractice case that claims a doctor’s mistakes led to a man’s stroke and, subsequently, serious medical issues.

The couple claims that the male plaintiff was diagnosed with a heart condition in 1996. The condition was confirmed by an echocardiogram in 2001. The doctor provided no additional care as a result of the condition and ultimately failed to include the diagnosis in the patient’s area of concerns.

Six years later, the man became very ill, complaining to his doctor of tiredness, lack of appetite, and pain. While the complaint states that the doctor recommended him to various other doctors, he never recommended him to see a cardiologist as a result of his previously diagnosed heart problem. As his condition continued to deteriorate, the female plaintiff requested that her husband be admitted to the hospital, but the doctor allegedly declined, telling her to wait for additional consultations.

Just a month later, the man suffered a stroke because of an infection related to his previously diagnosed heart condition. Since the stroke, he has not been able to work due to difficulty using his right side and memory problems, among other issues. The couple claims that the stroke could have easily been prevented had the doctor not neglected to recommend care for the man’s known heart condition.

A jury ultimately agreed that the doctor was negligent and awarded the couple over $6 million. Because of the nature of their work, it is imperative that medical care professionals explore every possible avenue of care to ensure that nothing is overlooked. People in Maryland who feel they are a victim of medical malpractice can similarly seek compensation by filing a case in a civil court.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Maryland Heights couple win $6.4 million medical malpractice verdict,” Walker Moskop, July 9, 2013