Nathan Goldstein v. St. John's Medical Center
Published: Mar. 1, 2001 | Result Date: Jan. 18, 2001 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: SC057351 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Santa Monica
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Kent M. Henderson
(Guizar, Henderson & Carrazco LLP)
Defendant
N. Denise Taylor
(Taylor DeMarco LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Michel F. Brones
(medical)
Laura Mosqueda
(medical)
Joyce M. Licata
(medical)
Defendant
Robert T. Wang M.D., Ph.D.
(medical)
Jed Horowitz M.D.
(medical)
Facts
On Dec. 14, 1998, the plaintiff, a 78-year-old man with dementia from Lewy body (a form of ParkinsonÆs disease
with a dementing characteristics of AlzheimerÆs disease) was admitted to St. JohnÆs Medical Center with
sepsis and hypotension, from the nursing home where he resided.
At the time of admission, he had a Stage II decubitus ulcer on his scrotum, and a Stage I decubitus ulcer on his
sacrum. At the time of admission, he was severely malnourished, cachectic and his limbs were contracted. He
had a Do Not Resuscitate order. During the course of the hospitalization, his wife agreed to the insertion of a
G-tube for feeding. His hospital course was complicated by the development of Flagl-resistant C-diff, which
extended his hospital stay and resulted in severe diarrhea.
During the course of the hospitalization, he developed 16 decubitus ulcers, the most serious being a large,
Stage IV decubitus ulcer on the sacrum, and two Stage IV decubitus ulcers on his left foot. These ulcers
required debridement, and the sacral ulcer required a flap surgery after discharge from the hospital.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff demanded $215,000. The defendant offered $29,999.
Specials in Evidence
$85,000 (paid by private insurance and Medicare)
Injuries
Pain and suffering from the development of the decubitus ulcers and need for debridement and flap surgery without anesthesia.
Other Information
Three co-defendant consulting doctors all dismissed prior to trial; co-defendant hospital entered into a confidential settlement prior to trial.
Deliberation
2.5 hours
Poll
10-2 (no negligence)
Length
10 days
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