Toddler's Death Lawsuit: Jury Awards $3.38M

Toddler's Death Lawsuit: Jury Awards $3.38M

Introduction

A Philadelphia jury awarded $3.38M to the parents of a 21-month-old infant, who died at Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park in September 2014.

According to the court documents, the infant was taken to a doctor when she was ill; she was recommended with fluids and anti-nausea medicine. Following the usage of medication, she became unresponsive and was rushed to Einstein Elkins Park emergency department. She underwent a couple of medical procedures, after which she was pronounced dead.

The plaintiff's lawyers claimed that as per the evidence, a physician’s assistant initially documented bilious vomiting—a red flag for a bowel obstruction and a sign for a surgical emergency in a child—but then after altered the records to remove that information. The lawyers further alleged that the hospital failed to diagnose and treat her condition or transfer her to another facility. The verdict was a result of a two-week medical malpractice trial before Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Erdos.