Failure to Order or Interpret Imaging Studies

Settlement on the eve of trial in a medical malpractice case brought on behalf of a minor against a doctor at a major Boston-area hospital. After a series of worrisome symptoms, the defendant pediatrician diagnosed the minor as suffering from cluster headaches, a very rare condition for children.  Despite this diagnosis, the pediatrician never ordered any imaging of the minor’s brain to confirm what was actually causing her symptoms. Over a year later, the child was rushed to the hospital after suffering from seizures where imaging finally revealed that she in fact had an arteriovenous malformation, which had ruptured and caused a stroke. This condition could have been diagnosed and surgically alleviated had imaging been performed earlier. The child is permanently disabled as a result of the rupture.

Wrongful death claim recovery for the two children of a 48-year-old man who died from a pulmonary embolism at a Central Massachusetts hospital when a radiologist misread an ultrasound ordered to determine whether the patient had blood clots in his leg. When the ultrasound was read as negative, the patient was discharged from the hospital, only to collapse in the parking lot and tragically die soon after.  Following extensive discovery over several years, the plaintiff’s estate resolved the case against the defendant radiologist.

Pre-suit wrongful death recovery for wife of patient who died of an aortic rupture. The patient presented to a hospital north of Boston after experiencing severe chest pain and nausea. As part of his work-up, the patient underwent a chest CT scan. Although the radiologist interpreted the study as normal, the scan actually revealed a large hematoma surrounding the aorta which should have been highly suspicious for an aortic leak or tear. The patient was discharged to his home after a 3-day hospital admission. A week later, the patient died suddenly after collapsing. An autopsy revealed that the tear or leak had ruptured, resulting in the patient’s death.

In a medical malpractice case, SUGARMAN attorneys obtained a pre-discovery settlement on behalf of a patient who was admitted to a Worcester-area hospital with classic symptoms of an impending stroke. The emergency room physician failed to review the results of the patient’s carotid artery ultrasound, which showed severe blockage, and discharged the patient. The patient unfortunately suffered a massive stroke two days later.

A physician’s failure to perform emergency CT scan to diagnose spinal cord compression resulted in paraplegia for patient at Boston hospital. The medical malpractice  lawsuit settled before trial.

Medical malpractice case settled during the appeals process after SUGARMAN attorneys obtained a jury verdict against a radiologist who misread the x-ray of 13-year-old boy who went to local emergency room with hip pain. The radiologist’s failure to properly read the x-ray resulted in a delay in treatment and significant and permanent injuries.