Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Doe, 39, experienced a headache for approximately one week. She went to her primary care physician, who allegedly prescribed medication and ordered an MRI. The next day, she went to a hospital ER, where she allegedly was administered morphine and underwent lab work. She allegedly was discharged with a diagnosis of tension headache and an instruction to follow up with her primary care physician. Several days later, she called her primary care physician and reported that she had nausea and vomiting. She allegedly was instructed to undergo the MRI, which was subsequently read as normal.

Doe later returned to the ER and reported severe pain and photophobia. She was discharged with migraine medications. Her primary care physician allegedly met with Doe several days later and prescribed new medication and injections. Doe subsequently collapsed at home and was brought back to a hospital, where she was diagnosed as having an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and a subdural hematoma secondary to a ruptured aneurysm. Doe died from her condition. She is survived by her husband and two minor children.

Suit claimed that the primary care physician and ER physicians failed to diagnose and treat Doe’s aneurysm. The plaintiff asserted that Doe should have undergone a lumbar puncture and computed tomography angiography to assess the vascular structures as the potential cause of her headaches. Had the aneurysm been treated by coiling or clipping, the plaintiff said, Doe would not have died.

The parties settled for $900,000 before trial.

Citation: Doe v. Roe, Confidential Dkt. No. (Va. Confidential Ct. 2022).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Thomas M. Wochok and William E. Artz, both of Tysons Corner, Va.