$325,000 Settlement for Failure to Timely Diagnose Aortic Aneurysm

Blume Donnelly partner David M. Fried represented a woman in her 30s with Marfan’s Syndrome. She presented to the emergency room with back pain and some radiating pain and numbness to her lower extremities. Her symptoms were all attributed to some strenuous activity, as she reported lifting a suitcase before the pain started. Marfan’s Syndrome sufferers are susceptible to aortic aneurysms, and the possibility that she may have had that vascular condition should have been investigated, but it wasn’t. In fact the woman did have an aortic aneurysm which compromised the blood flow (perfusion) to her gastrointestinal tract. Due to the loss of perfusion, she was caused to lose a very significant length of her bowels and developed “short gut syndrome”, which creates a host of health problems. Approximately 1.5 years later, she passed away from another aneurysm, not related to the claim referenced. However, despite the woman’s precipitous and unrelated passing, Mr. Fried was able to secure a settlement on this claim of $325,000.