Medical Malpractice Leads to Record Missouri Verdict
Errors made by a doctor in Missouri resulted in the largest medical malpractice award in the state, according to Frenkel & Frenkel.
A St. Louis County jury determined that a stroke suffered by Missouri resident Jeffrey Schneider could have been prevented. The jury awarded him $6.4 million due to the negligence of his physician, Dr. Joseph Thompson of SSM DePaul Medical Group.
Patient History and Missed Monitoring
According to court records, Schneider was diagnosed in 1996 with mitral valve prolapse — a condition that can allow blood to leak from the valve separating the atrium and ventricle. If left untreated, the condition may lead to endocarditis, a serious heart valve infection requiring monitoring.
However, no follow-up echocardiograms were ordered after 2001, and the diagnosis was no longer documented in Schneider’s medical records after 2002.
Worsening Symptoms and Delayed Care
In April 2007, Schneider reported symptoms including abdominal pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Despite his documented history, he was referred only to specialists — not to a cardiologist.
As his condition worsened, his wife contacted the physician requesting hospital admission. Court records show the doctor instructed her to wait until hematologist results came back.
On June 12, 2007, Schneider suffered a massive stroke at age 53 due to infection on his heart valve. The stroke left him with permanent injuries, including right-side paralysis, short-term memory impairment, and difficulty processing language. He is no longer able to return to work as a bank examiner and IT specialist.
Medical Oversight and Preventable Harm
The jury found that the failure to refer Schneider to a cardiologist and the delay in hospital admission contributed directly to the stroke and lasting disabilities. This case underscores how delayed diagnosis and overlooked medical history can lead to life-altering harm.
Legal Options for Victims of Medical Errors
When negligence, misdiagnosis, or delayed treatment leads to severe injury or death, a medical malpractice claim may be appropriate.
Contact Frenkel & Frenkel for a free consultation with experienced Dallas–Fort Worth medical malpractice attorneys who understand the devastating effects of preventable medical errors.