$7 Million Medical Malpractice

A minor from Fort Lauderdale arrived at an emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The hospital conducted a physical examination and an abdominal X-ray but did not perform any blood work, urine analysis, or laboratory tests. No additional diagnostic imaging was ordered. The child was given medication for nausea and then discharged.

Thirty-six hours later, the minor returned to the same emergency department with worsening symptoms. This time, a different emergency physician performed a more comprehensive evaluation, including lab tests and diagnostic imaging. The child was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and intubated. In the early morning hours of the following day, his pupils were dilated, and a CT scan revealed cerebral edema.

During this admission, the child’s condition deteriorated. He remained hospitalized for approximately eight months and suffered cerebral edema leading to encephalopathy and severe neurological injury due to the delay in diagnosis. Although liability was initially denied in this case, Hollander Law Firm successfully secured a $7 million settlement for medical malpractice.