The family of a man who died of an undiagnosed and untreated aortic aneurysm and dissection in 2018 was awarded $29 million by a jury, Boston.com reported May 10.
Joseph Brown went to Salem (Mass.) Hospital in 2018 after waking up with upper abdominal pain that spread to his chest and back, the report said. Tests ruled out some conditions, but he was found to have an elevated white blood cell count.
A partner with Lubin & Meyer, who litigated the case against Salem Hospital; Steven Browell, MD, and William Kenyon, MD, told Boston.com that a CT angiography would have likely shown the full extent of Mr. Brown's condition.
According to court documents, Dr. Kenyon didn't order scans that would rule out aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, the report said. However, Mr. Brown's pain and shortness of breath worsened, and a scan revealed the aneurysm and dissection. By that point, Mr. Brown's heart stopped twice before he cold be transferred to another hospital for surgery, and he wasn't able to be resuscitated.
A lawsuit alleged that Mr. Brown's aortic aneurysm could have been diagnosed nearly a day earlier if he had been treated with "the accepted standard of care.
The jury's award will go to Mr. Brown's daughters, the report said.
Salem Hospital told Boston.com in a statement that it extended "heartfelt condolences" to Mr. Brown's family.