Court—Confidential
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice
Attorneys: William B. Kilduff, Christopher L. Spinelli
Summary: The 66-year-old patient went to the emergency room with complaints of chest pain. He had a medical history significant for cardiac issues. One EKG was performed, and one troponin level was taken, both of which were nonspecific. The patient then began to belch excessively, reporting that he had consumed a soda and eaten a handful of broccoli which sometimes gave him gas.
The defendants dispensed a G.I. cocktail. The patient thereafter reported that he was no longer in pain and fell asleep. He was discharged home.
The next day, the patient returned to the emergency room with complaints of continuing chest pain. He was transferred by helicopter to MCV where he was found to have a 100% occlusion of the mid right coronary artery. The patient also suffered from and was treated for shock, transient paresthesias, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury and acute liver injury due to shock and a stroke.
Damages were heavily disputed. The defense argued that much of the hospitalization was the result of underlying conditions rather than negligence on the part of the defendants. The patient had also substantially recovered. The parties settled the case for $725,000.00.