Deborah Aviles Secures Swift Defense Verdict for Hospital in Medical Malpractice Case
Co-founding partner Deborah Aviles recently obtained a defense verdict on behalf of our client, a hospital, in a medical malpractice case tried in Suffolk County Supreme Court. This case involved the death of a 43-year-old male patient who experienced a one-time episode of chest heaviness, shortness of breath, and excessive perspiration in July 2012 while working outside as a lineman for PSEG. He received medical care from a cardiologist of our client, who performed an echocardiogram and stress test. The results of the echocardiogram revealed dilation of the ascending aorta and aortic root. It was determined that, despite the dilation, this was normal for a man who was 6’5″ and weighed 290 lbs. The cardiologist instructed him to return in a year for a follow-up echocardiogram, but he never did and sadly died of sudden cardiac death two years later, leaving behind a wife of 12 years and two young children. The plaintiff claimed negligence in our client’s medical assessment, alleging that it led to the patient’s death due to an undiagnosed aortic rupture. Deborah successfully established that our client did not deviate from the standard of care, and the jury returned a defense verdict within 30 minutes.
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