Although gastroenterologists are not common defendants in medical malpractice lawsuits, some cases over the last 10 years have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements, according to a blog post from law firm Miller & Zois.
"Average jury verdict information and stories of other settlements and verdicts can help … better understand the range of potential verdict or settlement compensation," the report said.
Here are eight gastroenterology malpractice verdicts in the last decade, as reported by Miller & Zois:
1. Kaplan v. MedStar Georgetown (2024)
Washington, D.C.
Verdict: $4 million
A 32-year-old Crohn’s disease patient claimed that extended use of high-dose steroids prescribed by gastroenterologists led to bone death in both hips, necessitating hip replacements. The patient alleged negligence for not tapering off the steroids sooner, despite worsening symptoms.
2. Estate of Thompson v. Kalakuntla (2023)
Pennsylvania
Verdict: $750,000
A 76-year-old patient under the care of a gastroenterologist allegedly experienced a two-week delay in addressing a bowel obstruction, which led to fecal vomiting and eventual death. The lawsuit claimed negligence for not treating the obstruction sooner.
3. Edwards v. University of Pennsylvania (2022)
Pennsylvania
Verdict: $650,000
A 61-year-old man died four days after being hospitalized for abdominal pain and vomiting. The lawsuit alleged gastroenterologist negligence for failing to recognize signs of bowel obstruction on a CT scan, manage aspiration risk, admit him to the ICU, maintain NPO status and perform nasogastric decompression.
4. Minor v. Gastroenterologist (2018)
Massachusetts
Verdict: $750,000
A 12-year-old Crohn’s disease patient with a slow-healing wound from a perianal abscess surgery was not prescribed Remicade by his gastroenterologist, who failed to communicate with the surgeon. After 10 months of suffering, the wound healed immediately once another gastroenterologist prescribed the medication.
5. Radzik v. Children’s Medical Center (2017)
Connecticut
Verdict: $6.8 million
A 13-year-old Crohn’s disease patient was treated with Remicade and Imuran but later developed lymphoma and died. The wrongful death lawsuit alleged that the gastroenterologist and hospital failed to inform the family about the cancer risks associated with the medications, leading to a $6.8 million jury verdict in favor of the family.
6. R.J. v. Ahmadinia (2017)
California
Verdict: $3.5 million
A pregnant mother at 26 weeks suffered a bowel obstruction that went undiagnosed by her gastroenterologist, radiologist and OB-GYN, leading to a premature delivery. The baby developed cerebral palsy due to birth complications, resulting in a $3.5 million settlement for alleged negligence in failing to diagnose the mother's condition.
7. Patient v. Gastroenterologist (2017)
Massachusetts
Verdict: $2.5 million
A 55-year-old hepatitis B patient alleged that his gastroenterologist and primary care physician failed to timely diagnose his liver cancer despite rising alpha-fetoprotein tumor markers. A delayed CT scan revealed an inoperable, metastasized tumor, leading to a $2.5 million settlement for negligence in not diagnosing the cancer sooner.
8. Stern v. Heller (2015)
Maryland
Verdict: $28.3 million:
An adult male with dormant Crohn’s disease alleged that his gastroenterologist failed to diagnose a duodenal ulcer, leading to unnecessary surgeries, a Crohn's flare-up and a perforated ulcer. The jury found the gastroenterologist negligent for not performing an upper endoscopy, awarding $28.37 million in damages.