Maryland Medical Malpractice Case Leads to $1.3 Million Jury Award

A jury in Montgomery County, Maryland, handed out a $1.3 million damages award in a medical malpractice lawsuit, reported the Daily Record. This case stemmed from a failure to diagnose a fatal heart attack in a 23-year-old male patient.

The incident that gave rise to this medical malpractice lawsuit occurred on March 12, 2016. At approximately 9 p.m. on that date, the 23-year-old man went to the emergency room at a Silver Spring hospital. At that time, the man was experiencing severe chest pains and sought treatment from medical professionals.

In response to his symptoms, the medical staff in Silver Spring conducted an electrocardiogram. There were apparent abnormalities in that test as well as other indications of a potential heart attack. But in terms of immediate treatment, the Silver Spring medical staff decided to merely administer medication for pain.

It was not until several hours later — and further chest pain complications — that the Silver Springs medical staff referred the patient to a cardiologist. Furthermore, no cardiologist was able to examine the 23-year-old man until the next morning.

At approximately 11 a.m. on March 12, 2016, the decision was made to transfer the patient to another hospital for further treatment. After the successful transfer, medical staff at the second hospital identified the heart attack and attempted to administer a stent to resolve the issue.

During the stent procedure, however, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Ultimately, the medical staff was able to restart the patient’s heart successfully. But the damage was already done. The patient experienced catastrophic brain damage during the stent procedure. The 23-year-old man officially died on March 16, 2016.

In the aftermath of this tragic incident, the man’s surviving family members decided to file a lawsuit and request damages. The surviving family members argued that a proper diagnosis and early intervention could have yielded a different result. The surviving family members filed their lawsuit on August 18, 2017, within the three-year statute of limitations for this type of claim.

More than a year later, the lawsuit progressed to trial on November 10, 2018. The resulting trial lasted approximately 10 days, with both sides presenting arguments, evidence and expert witnesses. When the trial concluded, the jury deliberated for a mere six hours before returning a verdict.

On November 20, 2018, the jury determined that certain medical staff at the Silver Spring hospital for liable for the 23-year-old man’s death. As a result, the jury awarded $962,500 in non-economic damages, $300,000 to the man’s estate and $10,000 for funeral expenses.

Do You Need Legal Help?

If you have legal questions about a medical malpractice claim in Maryland, it can be profoundly helpful to reach out to a dependable personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Iamele & Iamele, LLP in Baltimore, Maryland, understand how to mount successful lawsuits in various aspects of personal injury law, including medical malpractice cases. If you need legal help, contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Resource:

thefreelibrary.com/Jury+awards+$1.3M+for+missed+heart+attack+diagnosis+in+23-year-old…-a0564313629

https://www.iamelelawfirmbaltimore.com/3-faqs-on-medical-malpractice-in-maryland/