$575,000 Settlement for Failure to Diagnose and Treat Kidney Dysfunction

Mr. Fried represented a man in his 60s who had been diagnosed with a bipolar condition and prescribed lithium for many years. Lithium can cause kidney dysfunction. Neither his psychiatrist, who prescribed the lithium, nor his primary medical doctor, who had some knowledge his patient was taking lithium, performed routine, or even periodic, kidney (creatinine/BUN) testing. However, infrequent testing revealed our client was experiencing a loss of kidney function; but no steps were taken. He was ultimately weaned off of the lithium, unrelated to kidney concerns, but two years later had very limited kidney function. He continues to have low kidney function, but has neither required dialysis nor has he gotten high enough on a transplant list to get a new kidney.