A jury awarded Ellwood City, Pa., patient Edward Dallies $4.8 million after three physicians failed to treat a wrist infection that spread to his spinal cord, according to New Castle News.
In the two-year lawsuit, Mr. Dallies claimed the three physicians were negligent in diagnosing and treating his condition. Mr. Dallies visited primary care physician Lawrence Rahall, MD, of Ellwood City Hospital as well as John Lehman, MD, and Andrew Kaye, MD, of ASP Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Beaver County, Pa., with an infection in his left forearm and wrist in 2014.
As the infection spread to his spinal cord, Mr. Dallies claimed his condition went undiagnosed and untreated. The lawsuit alleged the three physicians failed to diagnose the spinal infection based on Mr. Dallies' symptoms. It also claimed the physicians failed to perform the appropriate tests.
The jury found Drs. Rahall and Lehman negligent. Dr. Lehman was 30 percent negligent, and Dr. Rahall was 70 percent negligent. Jurors found that zero percent was attributed to Dr. Kaye.
Of the $4.8 million, the award breaks down to $183,673 in anticipated medical expenses for the next 18 years, $1.23 million for past and future non-economic loss and $350,000 for past and future lost earnings.