A woman suffering lower back pain passed out and was rushed to the emergency room of St. James Hospital, where it was noted that she had risk factors for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (age 68 and a lifelong smoker). She also had symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm consisting of left flank pain which was most severe at onset. She was admitted to the hospital, but despite her risk factors and symptoms, she was not given a CT scan of the abdomen. That evening the nursing staff failed to inform the attending physician of her left flank pain despite pain medication and also failed to obtain her blood pressures. When a CT scan was ordered the following morning, it revealed major peritoneal bleeding from the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Despite aggressive surgical treatment, Janet did not survive the rupture. Our lawsuit for emergency room and diagnosis error resulted in a $2 million settlement for the woman's estate.
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