$17.1 Million DC Medical Malpractice Verdict in Ectopic-Pregnancy Wrongful-Death Case
On April 6, 2022, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel partner Allan M. Siegel obtained a $17,107,000 jury verdict in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in a medical malpractice and wrongful-death case involving the failure to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy.
The case arose from treatment provided at Washington Hospital Center’s Women’s Wellness Clinic.
The patient, a 33-year-old mother of three minor children, sought medical care after experiencing vaginal bleeding for approximately two weeks. Testing confirmed that she was pregnant, but a bedside transvaginal ultrasound did not confirm a pregnancy inside the uterus.
The ectopic pregnancy was not diagnosed before she was sent home. The pregnancy subsequently ruptured, causing fatal internal bleeding.
What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube.
Because a fallopian tube cannot safely accommodate a growing pregnancy, an untreated ectopic pregnancy can rupture and cause severe internal bleeding. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening medical emergency.
In this case, the patient’s symptoms and testing raised concerns that required appropriate evaluation and follow-up.
The Patient Went to Washington Hospital Center’s Women’s Wellness Clinic
The patient presented to the Women’s Wellness Clinic complaining of vaginal bleeding that she had been experiencing for approximately two weeks.
A nurse practitioner ordered a rapid pregnancy test, which showed that the patient was pregnant. Bloodwork was ordered and a bedside transvaginal ultrasound was performed.
The ultrasound did not confirm the presence of a fetus in the uterus.
The patient was instructed to return for follow-up bloodwork but was sent home without understanding the potentially fatal nature of her condition. The ectopic pregnancy was not diagnosed.
The Undiagnosed Ectopic Pregnancy Ruptured
The patient’s ectopic pregnancy subsequently ruptured, resulting in catastrophic internal bleeding and her death.
She was only 33 years old and left behind three minor children.
The case proceeded as a medical malpractice and wrongful-death action against Washington Hospital Center.
What Did the Jury Find?
The case was tried in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The jury found Washington Hospital Center negligent and determined that the nurse practitioner failed to properly inform the patient about her potentially fatal medical condition.
The jury returned a total verdict of $17,107,000. The award included:
· $15 million for the patient’s three minor children for the loss of education, guidance, and support
· $500,000 for the patient’s conscious pain and suffering
· $1.607 million for lost wages and lost household services
The verdict recognized both the patient’s own suffering and the devastating losses experienced by the children who lost their mother.
Allan Siegel Obtained the $17.1 Million DC Jury Verdict
Allan M. Siegel, a partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, represented the family and obtained the $17,107,000 jury verdict.
Siegel is a board-certified trial attorney licensed in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia whose practice includes serious personal injury, medical malpractice, brain injury, and wrongful death litigation.
This result directly connects his trial experience with a major Washington, DC medical malpractice and wrongful-death verdict.
Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death in Washington, DC
A failure to diagnose a dangerous medical condition can have irreversible consequences. Medical malpractice cases involving a patient’s death may require investigation of medical records, diagnostic testing, the applicable standard of care, communication with the patient, causation, economic losses, and the effect of the death on surviving family members.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel represents patients and families in Washington, DC medical malpractice and wrongful-death cases, including claims involving failures to diagnose and treat serious medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the $17.1 Million Washington Hospital Center Verdict?
On April 6, 2022, a DC Superior Court jury returned a $17,107,000 verdict in a wrongful-death medical malpractice case arising from the failure to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy at Washington Hospital Center’s Women’s Wellness Clinic.
Who Handled the $17.1 Million Ectopic-Pregnancy Case?
Allan M. Siegel, a partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, handled the case and obtained the $17.1 million jury verdict.
Where Was the Case Tried?
The case was tried in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
What Caused the Patient’s Death?
The patient’s ectopic pregnancy went undiagnosed. It subsequently ruptured, causing fatal internal bleeding.
