Jury Finds Doctor Met Standard of Care

Suzanne Favia Gillen and Michelle Paveza represented an obstetrician/gynecologist in a medical malpractice case.  Plaintiff presented to the Doctor on referral for complaints of severe right-sided pain.  Based on the physical examination and imaging studies, the Plaintiff was diagnosed with constipation and ovarian cysts.  Eight days later the Plaintiff underwent surgery to remove a right-sided ectopic pregnancy.  Plaintiff alleged that she was pregnant at the time of the office visit, and that the delay in diagnosis denied her the opportunity to treat the pregnancy medically instead of surgically.  The defense contended that the Plaintiff’s history and physical examination findings were inconsistent with pregnancy.  The jury returned a verdict in favor of the Doctor after a week of trial testimony.