Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Anna Mae Burnett, who had a history of falls, was admitted to Powerback Rehabilitation following spinal surgery. During the admission, she suffered multiple falls. After the last incident, she was transferred to Pennsylvania Hospital, where she was diagnosed as having a T2 burst fracture with spinal cord compression over 32 hours later.

Burnett’s condition led to paraplegia and a neurogenic bladder and bowel. She died of sepsis resulting from a urinary tract infection almost three years later, at the age of 73.

Burnett’s estate sued the hospital and the rehabilitation facility and its affiliates, alleging claims for survival. The plaintiff asserted that Burnett had suffered catastrophic injuries due to the fall and the delayed diagnosis of her spinal cord compression and that her death resulted from complications related to her injuries.

The parties settled for $2.25 million.

Citation: Schireson v. Pennsylvania Hosp., No. 1703002606 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Philadelphia Cty. July 14, 2020).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Steven G. Wigrizer, Jason S. Weiss, and AAJ member Mary T. Gidaro, all of Philadelphia.