Sullivan Papain’s Ana-Marija Turkovic, Esq. Negotiates $700,000 Settlement in Medical Malpractice Case

45-Year-Old Man’s Symptoms Ignored

In January 2015, the decedent presented to the hospital’s emergency department with complaints of dizziness and right arm numbness. He was examined by the defendant emergency medicine physician who ordered blood labs, documented the decedent’s vitals, and ordered a CT of the head. The decedent’s labs revealed extremely high glucose levels and low sodium levels. The decedent’s blood pressure was dangerously elevated as well. The CT Scan of the Head was completed and interpreted by the defendant radiologist who identified a “questionable hypodensity” in the left parietal lobe and recommended an MRI should be performed.  Importantly, this particular hospital did not have an MRI machine and so the decedent needed to be transferred to a hospital that could perform an MRI. 

The defendant emergency medicine doctor allegedly discussed the radiological findings with the radiologist and was told by the defendant radiologist that there were no findings. Instead of investigating the cause of the “questionable hypodensity” by ordering an MRI or transferring the decedent to a hospital capable of diagnosing his condition, the defendant emergency physician and the defendant internal medicine physician agreed to discharge the patient home with nausea medication. The decedent’s dizziness, right arm numbness, elevated glucose levels, elevated blood pressure, and low sodium levels were never treated, and the decedent’s “questionable hypodensity” in the brain was ignored.

Worsening Symptoms Left Untreated

The decedent returned to the same hospital three days later by ambulance, only this time, confused and unable to move half his body.  Despite these obvious signs of stroke, yet again the defendant physicians delayed in ordering imaging of the brain. A subsequent CT Scan of the head was finally performed the following day which showed a large area of brain damage due to the complete blockage of blood flow to that part of the brain. The decedent became unresponsive and passed away within a short time.

Sullivan Papain On Behalf of the Patient’s Family

Sullivan Papain was retained by the family of the decedent. We retained medical experts in the fields of neuroradiology, neurology, and emergency medicine who opined that the decedent required admission to the hospital, treatment for the abnormal glucose levels, sodium levels, and blood pressure, further radiological studies, including MRI/MRA studies, and a neurology consultation to determine the cause of the new hypodensity.  

The plaintiff’s neuro-radiologist opined that the defendant radiologist misinterpreted the CT of the head as the hypodensity was not questionable at all, in fact, the hypodensity was visible and “the hallmark sign of ischemia,” meaning a disruption in blood flow to the brain. Had an MRI/MRA been ordered and performed, the size and location of the blood clot would have been determined, and treatment would have been possible. According to the plaintiff’s neurologist, depending on how early the blood clot was discovered, the treatment options would vary between Intravenous TPA otherwise referred to as a clot-busting agent, thrombectomy, and/or the need for stent placement. If the decedent’s blockage had been timely diagnosed and treated, the massive stroke that occurred several days later could have been prevented.

Several days before jury selection was scheduled to begin, Ms. Turkovic negotiated a settlement with the attorneys for the doctors and the hospital in the total sum of $700,000. The settlement compensates the patient’s family for his pain, suffering, and untimely death. 

Learn More About Associate Ana-Marija Turkovic

Ana-Marija Turkovic is an associate at the firm. She enjoys taking on litigation and medical malpractice cases. To learn more about firm Associate Ana-Marija Turkovic, click here.