Family of breast cancer survivor files medical malpractice suit

As many Louisiana residents know, a fall can be devastating to some older individuals. Depending on the age and overall health of the person, a fall can result in injuries ranging in severity from bruises to broken bones or even internal injuries. In most cases, these falls are not fatal with proper medical treatment. However, one patient’s estate has recently filed a medical malpractice suit claiming that the misdiagnosis of an injury caused the benefactor’s death.

The patient was a gallbladder and breast cancer survivor. She was admitted to UF Health Shands Hospital after falling in her home. After she was admitted, the patient complained of abdominal pain, and tests results suggested that that the problem might be a gastrointestinal bleed. These results lead doctors to make the decision to transfer the patient to North Florida Regional Medical Center where she could receive specialized care.

After she was admitted to the second hospital, another doctor diagnosed her with obstructive jaundice instead of a G.I. bleed. The patient was then scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging procedure later the next day. Unfortunately, the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate at a rapid rate.

The lawsuit claims that she was vomiting large amounts of blood before she went into cardiac arrest. Ultimately, the cause of death was determined to be hemorrhagic shock. The estate claims that the doctors should have recognized the patient’s symptoms and checked for a G.I. bleed instead of immediately settling on a diagnosis that did not require immediate medical treatment.

A misdiagnosis of an illness or internal injury that is not immediately obvious can be deadly. As was the case here, a patient’s condition can deteriorate very quickly without the proper treatment. Patients in Louisiana who believe that a hospital or doctor is to blame for their injury or illness may wish to contact an attorney about filing a medical malpractice claim. An attorney may be able to help his or her client to receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, or funeral costs, when necessary.

Source: gainesville.com, “GI doctor, practice hit with malpractice claim“, Champe Barton, Feb. 16, 2018