Sullivan Papain’s Ana-Marija Turkovic Obtains $1,000,000 Settlement in a Medical Malpractice Involving the Failure to Diagnose a Staphylococcus Aureus Infection
Sullivan Papain associate Ana-Marija Turkovic successfully obtained a $1 million settlement (the maximum insurance policy) for a 78-year-old husband, father and grandfather whose Staphylococcus Aureus infection diagnosis was delayed by 1 month due to defendant hospital’s negligence.
The plaintiff presented to the defendant hospital with complaints of abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and overall, not feeling well. After passing a bowel movement, the plaintiff reported feeling better and signed out of the hospital against medical advice.
Later that day, the plaintiff’s family called 911 when they found the plaintiff on the ground. The plaintiff was brought back to the same defendant hospital where, following an examination, he was noted to have a temperature of 102.3 and an altered mental state. Blood labs and a urinalysis were ordered. The labs and urinalysis showed signs of infection; thus, blood and urine cultures were ordered. The plaintiff was admitted to the hospital; however, the plaintiff was never given a room and instead, waited in a bed in the hallway. After hours of waiting and not being given a room, the plaintiff signed out against medical advice.
The following morning, the blood culture results were finalized and revealed a Staphylococcus Aureus infection. The defendant facility never informed the plaintiff that his blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus Aureus. Plaintiff’s counsel retained an expert in the field of emergency medicine who opined that good and accepted medical practice required the defendant facility to inform the plaintiff of his life-threatening lab results and to recall him for IV antibiotic therapy.
Unfortunately for the plaintiff, the defendant hospital did not take any steps to contact the plaintiff to inform him of his lab results. The defendant hospital’s failure to timely diagnose and treat the plaintiff’s Staphylococcus Aureus infection resulted in the infection ultimately traveling through the plaintiff’s bloodstream and implanting itself in plaintiff’s spine which caused an abscess to develop, the formation and spread of osteomyelitis and the destruction of plaintiff’s spine.
As a result of defendant’s negligence, the plaintiff required multiple back surgeries and was rendered paraplegic. The plaintiff required extensive rehab and physical therapy. The plaintiff now walks with a cane and is unable to travel long distances without the support of his family.