Medical Misdiagnosis Verdict
A Philadelphia cardiologist advised his 57-year-old patient from Atlantic City, NJ to discontinue her anticoagulation therapy before surgery. She had been taking Coumadin regularly. A Philadelphia cardiothoracic surgeon postponed the surgery by one day, during which time the woman suffered a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis in her legs, necessitating costly medical procedures. She suffered permanent injuries to her legs and was no longer able to work again. A medical malpractice lawsuit was filed in Philadelphia County and a Philadelphia jury returned a verdict of $1,350,000 to compensate her for lost wages, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.