$1.2 Million Dollar Settlement Reached in Case Involving Failure to Treat Gall Stones

September 23, 2004 - Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. announced today that it has reached a $1.2 million settlement on behalf of a 46 year old man with a history of stomach complaints who, after eating fried chicken, presented to a local hospital and was admitted for pancreatitis. A work-up of the patient included an ultrasound and a CT scan of his abdomen. The radiologist's interpretation of these tests was consistent with small stones in the gall bladder duct. The patient was released with instructions to follow-up with his primary care physician. Two months later the man suffered a second attack of pancreatitis that nearly killed him. He lost 75% of his pancreas and was hospitalized for two months, undergoing two additional surgeries.

The case was successfully prosecuted by the trail team at Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. against the hospital physician for failing to follow-through on the radiologist's findings. The firm successfully argued that the stones visible on the films meant that the patient's gall bladder should have been removed. Had the man's gall bladder been removed during the first hospitalization he would not have suffered the potentially fatal second attack of gall stone pancreatitis. The lead attorney prosecuting the case, explained: "this never should have happened, it could have been prevented, and those responsible have been brought to justice."