Family Awarded $3.7 Million in Failure to Diagnose Lawsuit

A Wisconsin jury has awarded $3.7 million to the family of a farm worker who died after doctors failed to properly diagnose and treat an infection.

Gustavo Espinal-Santos died in January, 2004 after contracting a fungal infection known as blastomycosis, which is often transmitted through water or soil.

According to the medical malpractice lawsuit filed by Santos' family, the first time Santos came to Bellin Family Medical Center he was seen by a physician who concluded he was suffering from the effects of pneumonia. 

Santos' family is claiming the hospital was negligent in failing to run basic diagnostic tests, specifcially X-rays, that would have helped to diagnose his condition.

The jury returned their verdict after a four-day trial and eight hours of deliberation.  Both Bellin Health System and Dr. Peri Aldrich were found to be negligent in providing proper medical treatment to Santos.

Santos is survived by his wife and two daughters.

For more information about failure to diagnose cases, please click here to contact a medical malpractice attorney near you.