As reported by Sea Coast Online, a Rockingham County jury has found a radiologist that failed to properly diagnose a woman's stroke, which caused her undue suffering and lingering injuries, medically negligent.
Dr. E.J.'s patient, N.J., was awarded $5 million after a two-week long trial and three-hour jury deliberation.
Dr. E.J. was formerly associated with Advanced Diagnostic Imaging in Exeter. At the time she treated N.J., the imaging center was contracted through Exeter Hospital for all of its radiological services.
N.J. suffered the stroke in 2007. The suit was filed on behalf of N.J. and her husband, A.J., in 2010.
The suit states that on August 9, 2007 N.J. entered the Exeter Hospital emergency room with a chief complaint of lingering, acute headache pain. N.J. also began exhibiting neurological symptoms such as slurred speech during her visit.
A CT scan, read by Dr. E.J., was found to be of "doubtful clinical significance" though abnormal. Dr. E.J.'s finding concluded, "There is no evidence of acute hemorrhage, mass lesion, mass effect, acute ischemia, or extra-axial fluid collections."
Within the next several hours N.J. got worse. She was med-flighted to Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. Once she arrived she underwent a second CT scan. According to the suit, the diagnosis of the second scan was starkly different from the first. The suit states that the new scan read, "bilateral intracranial hemorrhages with extension into subarachnoids from the superior sagittal sinus caused by thrombosis or stroke."
N.J. had to undergo brain surgery following the second scan. A second neurologist looked over the same scan that Dr. E.J. had deemed normal and concluded that it was incorrectly read. The suit states, "Dr. (E.J.) breached the standard of care by failing to accurately read Ms. (N.J.) head CT and by failing to communicate with Ms. (N.J.'s) care providers. To the extent that Dr. (E.J.) noted abnormalities in the CT, she negligently dismissed them as not being clinically significant."
The suit further claims that if the first scan been read correctly N.J. "would likely not have experienced the severity of symptoms from which she suffered and continues to suffer."
One of the attorneys representing N.J., Gary Richardson, said that his client continues to receive intense therapy, rehabilitation and, if she and her husband chose to have children someday, N.J. would experience a high-risk pregnancy.
Richardson further claimed that his client showed concerns about the findings after the first CT scan, however, the emergency room staff at Exeter Hospital largely ignored her.
Richardson concluded, "We're extremely happy the jury ruled in our favor, and we did not feel that the Emergency Department at Exeter Hospital had done anything wrong, and we were pleased the jury placed 100 percent of the responsibility on Dr. (E.J.)"
Being ignored while in the emergency room, having your tests misread, and complicating your suffering with unnecessary delays are all grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you have suffered while under the care of a medical professional or institution, contact a medical malpractice lawyer today for help!