Errors by a doctor in Missouri have led to the largest medical malpractice award in the state of Missouri, says Frenkel & Frenkel.
A stroke suffered by a Missouri man could have been prevented, according to a jury in St. Louis County, Missouri. The jury awarded Jeffrey Schneider $6.4 million due to the negligence of Schneider’s doctor, Joseph Thompson of the SSM DePaul Medical Group. Medical HistoryAccording to court documents, in 1996, Thompson diagnosed Schneider with mitral valve prolapse, a condition in which blood leaks from the valve between the atrium and ventricle. In some cases, the condition can lead to endocarditis, an infection of the heart valve, which is why the condition must be monitored regularly. Court documents show that no echocardiograms were ordered after 2001, and the diagnosis did not appear on Schneider’s health records again after 2002. Sudden Illness In April 2007, Schneider contacted Thompson, complaining of fatigue, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. Thompson referred Schneider to specialists, but not to a cardiologist, despite the 1996 diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse. In May 2007, Schneider’s wife, Connie, contacted the doctor as her husband’s health was deteriorating, requesting that he be admitted to the hospital. Court documents say that Thompson instructed her to wait until results returned from a hematologist. On June 12, 2007, Schneider suffered a massive stroke at the age of 53 due to an infection on his heart valve. The stroke left Schneider with partial paralysis on this right side, damage to his short-term memory and difficulty processing words. Because of the after-effects of the stroke, he is unable to return to his job as a bank examiner and IT specialist. Medical Malpractice Thompson’s failure to refer Schneider to a cardiologist when he became ill in 2007 despite his history of mitral valve prolapse, and his recommendation that Schneider wait for test results before being admitted to the hospital, led to a stroke that severely limited his ability to work and live a normal life. It is an example of the types of medical malpractice suffered by patients throughout the country. When a medical mistake or negligence suspected as the reason for a life altering illness or results in sudden death, a medical malpractice claim may be warranted. Contact Dallas-Fort Worth lawyers Frenkel & Frenkel to schedule a free consultation with an attorney who understands the devastating effects of medical errors.
