Wrongful Death – Delayed Diagnosis of TTP
A confidential settlement was reached
Mrs. V died from a condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (“TTP”). TTP is a blood disorder characterized by blood clots that form in small blood vessels in the body. The clots can limit oxygen-rich blood from reaching essential organs. If properly diagnosed in a timely manner, this condition is highly treatable; survival without significant complications is the norm (approximately 80%). In this case, the diagnosis was not made until one week after Mrs. V. presented to the hospital.
The Eisen Law Firm sued the hospital and eight doctors. During depositions, The Eisen Law Firm discovered that one of the named defendants — the hematologist consulting on Mrs.V’s case –, left town in the middle of her hospitalization. At the time of his departure, the hematologist’s diagnosis for Mrs. V. was idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (“ITP”), a condition that requires treatment that is altogether different from the treatment for TTP. When the doctor left town, he arranged for another hematologist to be “on call” for Mrs. V. Although Mrs. V’s condition deteriorated after the doctor’s departure, the covering hematologist did not learn of this deterioration until later, at which time the proper diagnosis of TTP was made. Unfortunately, the diagnosis error lead to the death of Mrs. V.
The Eisen Law Firm was able to prove that Mrs. V’s death was caused be a delay in diagnosing her medical condition and was preventable. A confidential settlement was reached.