Reading Hospital Found Negligent, Teen Awarded $9.6 Million
In Berks County, Pennsylvania. a jury found that Reading Hospital did not diagnose a young girl’s cancer. She was awarded $9.6 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Details of the Medical Malpractice Case
The 15-year-old girl, only identified as L.M., received the verdict on Thursday. The judge presiding over the trial was Judge Madelyn S. Fudeman.
When L.M. was newly 11-years-old, she started to experience persistent and continuous vaginal bleeding. Despite visiting various medical providers, most significantly Reading Hospital, her issues were for the most part ignored.
While the original lawsuit listed additional defendants when the it was filed on January 3, 2018, the jury only found Dr. Emmanuella Cherisme-Theophile, Reading Hospital, and Farias Medical Clinic casually negligent. The jury found that Farias Medical Clinic was 10% casually negligent while Cherisme-Theophile was 50% casually negligent. Reading Hospital was found the remain 40% casually negligent and will be paying $3.8 million.
Reports suggest that healthcare providers dismissed the bleeding as menstrual bleeding and failed to test for further possible complications. The plaintiff’s cancer remained undiagnosed and progressed to advanced stages.
Due to her late diagnosis of cervical cancer, L.M. had to endure multiple surgeries and extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, according to her attorney. Her attorney also claims the plaintiff’s cancer is now terminal.
Medical Malpractice Statistics
Currently medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. The only things that kill more people are cancer and heart disease.
There are approximately 250,000 deaths every year from medical errors. However, despite the high amount of deaths caused by medical errors only about 5 percent result in any kind of lawsuit or payout for the harmed.
Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured due to a medical error, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our firm has a proven track record of winning large cases for severely injured clients for more than 25 years. Thomas J. Henry has the experienced medical malpractice lawyers and the legal and financial resources necessary to properly develop your case. Our dedication and determination is reflected in the record-breaking results we have helped our clients achieve.
Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review — attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.
