Kenneth Rothweiler and Daniel Jeck, partners at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg, and Jeck, P.C., recovered $2 million for their client who died while under the care of surgeons and other health care providers at a local hospital due, in part, to their failure to timely perform surgery for appendicitis and having overdosed their patient with intravenous colchicines, a medication that treats gout.
The patient entered a local emergency room complaining of lower abdominal pain for two days. A CAT scan revealed the results consistent with acute appendicitis and possible perforation. The patient’s surgeon decided not to perform surgery but rather observe the patient and treat with antibiotics.
During the course of the hospitalization, a different set of health care providers prescribed and administered intravenous colchicines for the patient’s gout condition. According to the records, the patient received 20 mgs. of I.V. colchicines over eight days; multiples of an appropriate dosage amount.
Nearly two weeks after the patient entered the emergency room complaining of stomach pain, he developed septic shock. His white blood cell count plummeted and his organs began to fail. Unfortunately, the patient passed away. Autopsy revealed, among other things, findings consistent with acute appendicitis with likely perforation.
Attorneys Rothweiler and Jeck argued multiple theories of medical negligence against different health care providers at the hospital. First, they claimed that the physicians overdosed the patient with colchicines which can cause severe white blood cell suppression, shock and death. Next, they argued that the failure to timely perform surgery on appendicitis further contributed to a death from overwhelming sepsis.
The matter settled prior to trial.
