Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Doe, 50, went to the Roe hospital emergency room, suffering from fever, nausea, and abdominal pain. He underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed as having a clot in the left inferior mesenteric vein. He was then administered tPA, heparin, and antibiotics. The next morning, an interventional radiologist performed a transhepatic procedure to inject Doe with tPA. Following the procedure, Doe suffered from shortness of a breath and abdominal pain. A subsequent CT scan revealed a large hematoma in his liver.

The next day, Doe’s stomach became distended, and he was diagnosed as having abdominal compartment syndrome. After attempts to transfer him were unsuccessful, he underwent a coil embolization procedure and exploratory surgery, during which five liters of blood were discovered in his abdomen. Doe died of internal bleeding several days later. He had been a teacher earning $90,000 annually and is survived by two children, one of whom was a minor.

The claimant alleged that the hospital was liable for its providers’ performance of a contraindicated transhepatic procedure and delayed postoperative treatment. The claimant asserted that the defendant’s providers should have started Doe on heparin and addressed the hematoma sooner.

The parties settled before suit was filed for $2.7 million.

Citation:Doe v. Roe Hosp., settled before filing, June 2020.

Claimant counsel: AAJ member Frank Mafrice, Southfield, Mich.