Kenneth Rothweiler and Daniel Jeck recover $2 million for their client who died because surgeons did not timely perform surgery.
The patient entered a local emergency room complaining of lower abdominal pain for two days. A CT scan was performed and the results were consistent with acute appendicitis with a possible puncture. The patient's surgeon decided not to perform surgery; although the radiologist recommended it. The surgeon wrote a note on the file that if the patient's condition did not improve in one to three days then surgery may be necessary.
After three days the patient shows mild improvement but has developed gout in both knees. At this time a second CT scan is performed to monitor the conditions in the patient's abdomen. The second scan shows the conditions have worsened but surgery is still not recommended or performed. The patient is left to suffer in the hospital bed with worsening conditions.
Eleven days after the patient initially entered the emergency room complaining of lower abdomen pain he entered into septic shock. His white blood cell count plummeted and his organs began to rapidly fail. Unfortunately, the patient passed away and the autopsy performed showed a ruptured appendix.
Rothweiler and Jeck argued that the surgeon and hospital were negligent by not performing surgery when the CT scan pointed to a ruptured appendix. Appendicitis is common and patients can continue to live happy and healthy lives if the appendix is removed before it ruptures. Surgery was not recommended to the patient and he suffered for eleven days in the hospital with incompetent care until his ultimate death from sepsis. The case settled for $2 million shortly before trial.
