Senior Trial Partner Nancy J. Block, assisted by Partner Jessica A. Bresnan and Associate Samantha E. Shaw, obtained a defense verdict in Kings County. The matter involved a 30-year-old woman who claimed that our clients, an endocrinologist and a neurologist, failed to diagnose pulmonary arterial hypertension. She alleged that had she been diagnosed at an earlier stage, she would not have needed 24-hour continuous IV Flolan – a medication which caused her to become debilitated and unable to pursue her career as a lawyer.
The defense argued that plaintiff had been previously diagnosed by another neurologist with a partial complex seizure disorder that was consistent with her symptoms; and she underwent two prior negative cardiac evaluations. Our clients were entitled to rely on this diagnosis and the negative work ups. There was also no indication to refer her to a cardiologist for additional studies. The defense explained the medicine associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension and why it was not diagnosable when plaintiff treated with our clients. Further, the defense demonstrated that plaintiff would never have been successfully treated with oral calcium channel blockers and the continuous IV Flolan is the reason that she has survived with a devastating disease. The jury returned a verdict in favor of all defendants.