Professional Negligence Law Reporter

After experiencing bloody diarrhea and other symptoms, David Kaplan, 32, was referred to a gastroenterologist employed by MedStar Medical Group II LLC. The physician diagnosed Crohn’s disease and prescribed a high-dose steroid, initially as a short-term rescue medication. Kaplan then consulted a specialty IBD clinic and was kept on high-dose steroids for approximately seven months. He also was prescribed mesalamine, a medication not FDA-approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. After complaining of unremitting gastrointestinal symptoms, Kaplan was switched to a biologic medication and weaned off the steroid. The following year, Kaplan was diagnosed as having bone death in the joints of both hips. He required bilateral hip replacements.

Kaplan sued MedStar Georgetown Medical Center, Inc., alleging negligent failure to taper him off the high-dose steroid and timely transition him to the biologic. The plaintiff also asserted failure to obtain informed consent, arguing he was not told that the risk of joint damage increased the longer he took the steroid.

The jury awarded $4 million.

Citation: Kaplan v. MedStar Georgetown Med. Ctr., Inc., No. 2021-CA-004820-M (D.C. Super. Ct. Apr. 17, 2024).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Catherine D. Bertram and Kieran Murphy, both of Washington, D.C.