Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Doe, who was over age 60 and suffered from untreated hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, went to a medical group, complaining of left-sided chest pain. Health professionals allegedly diagnosed Doe as having chest muscle inflammation.

Five days later, Doe went to an ER, suffering from severe shortness of breath. She was diagnosed as having a heart attack. Despite undergoing emergency surgery to treat a ventricular septal defect, Doe died.

Suit alleged that undisclosed defendants failed to timely diagnose a myocardial infarction when Doe presented to the medical group. The plaintiff alleged the defendants should have included myocardial infarction in their differential diagnosis and ordered an EKG to evaluate the potential cause of her chest pain.

The defense argued that the evidence was not clear enough during the office visit to indicate that Doe was having a myocardial infarction and that the diagnosis of chest muscle pain was reasonable.

The plaintiff and defendants reached a settlement in the case for a total of $1.45 million.

Citation: Doe v. Roe, Undisclosed Dkt. No. (Confidential Jxn., Ct., & Date).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Craig D. Brown and Jonathan P. Mincieli, both of St. Charles, Ill.