Classic Markers Ignored in Young Woman’s Wrongful Death

As reported by the Free Press in Mankato, MN, Rebecca Joecks has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Mankato Clinic for failing to diagnose a brain hemorrhage that killed her daughter, Elizabeth Moen, on February 15, 2008.

The attorney that is representing the clinic, David Alsop, plans to file an answer that  denies all of the allegations.

Elizabeth Moen, 19, first visited the Mankato Clinic on January 21, 2008, with chief complaints of a chronic headache, vomiting, diarrhea and a stiff neck. She was admitted immediately.  The lawsuit contends that "These markers were all classic symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage."

Dr Lisa Davidson, the clinic's neurologist named in the suit, evaluated Moen later that same day. In her diagnosis, migraine headaches was the cause of the problems and Moen was not tested for subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Moen was discharged four days later and continued to suffer from headaches. She returned to the clinic on February 4, 2008, at which time, Davidson renewed her pain medication prescription only.

The complaint said, "Doctor Davidson did not order that Ms. Moen return for a follow-up examination and never warned Ms. Moen or instructed her about the possibility that her condition was something other than migraine headaches."

Once again, Moen visited the Mankato clinic, this visit being her third, and last, for the same problem on February 14, 2008.  She was admitted for the same severe headaches, but now they were coupled with much stronger nausea attacks, and a newer symptom: convulsions. 

A CT scan revealed a brain hemorrhage and Moen was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. 

Moen was pronounced brain dead at Rochester and was only kept alive long enough to harvest her donated organs.  She was then pronounced dead, on February 15, 2008, just two weeks shy of what would have been her 20^th birthday.

Dr. Davidson is identified in the lawsuit for her failure to recognize the possibility of subarachnoid hemorrhage, her failure to order tests that would have identified bleeding and a failure to ask either mother, or daughter, about any previous migraine history.

The complaint continued, "As a direct and proximate result of defendant Davidson's negligence, Elizabeth Moen's developing subarachnoid hemorrhage was not diagnosed and treated, and directly resulted in her death."

Alsop told the Mankato Free Press that Moen's injuries were caused by parties who weren't controlled by the Mankato Clinic.  He further contends that his clients demand the lawsuit to be dropped and that Mrs. Joecks pay their legal fees. 

He included a written statement by Mankato Clinic officials that read, "Our hearts go out to the family of Elizabeth Moen for their loss.  The death of a family member is unfortunate and tragic, but, in this case, the care provided to Ms. Moen by Dr. Davidson was appropriate and met the standard of care."

If you or a loved one has been mistreated or ill-treated due to a physician's malpractice, contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer close to you.