Paulette Jensen, individually and as PR of the Estate of Gordon Jensen Jr. v. Hilands General Medical Clinic Inc., Stephen D. Fewell
Published: Mar. 15, 2001 | Result Date: Sep. 11, 2000 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 982049502KNT Verdict – $1,285,020
Judge
Court
King Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Stephen E. Hughes
(medical)
Greg Kulander
(medical)
Mary Muth
(technical)
Howard B. Miller
(medical)
Lowell Bassett
(technical)
Nasser Ordoubadi
(medical)
Allen Sussman
(medical)
Jerry Palmer
(medical)
Defendant
Tom Martin
(medical)
Bruce Francis
(medical)
June Betsch
(technical)
Facts
On March 12, 1995, the patient first presented to defendantÆs clinic with a sore throat and was diagnosed with a
viral infection. The plaintiff returned to the clinic on March 23, where he was seen by defendant physicianÆs
assistant.
In addition to complaining that his sore throat had not improved, the patient also indicated that he was feeling
weak and losing weight. The patient was weighed on both March 12 and 23. In the 11 days between the visits,
he lost 16 pounds. The patient was told that he may have a bacterial infection causing his sore throat and was
prescribed an antibiotic. The patient filled the prescription and took his medication as directed.
On the evening of March 24, the patientÆs mother advised the patient that he might have undiagnosed diabetes
and she thought the patient should go to the hospital that night to be tested. The patient refused, but his wife
did call the clinic to ask if the blood they had drawn the day before could be tested for diabetes. The medical
assistant who took the call did not forward the call to the physician at the clinic and simply asked them to come
in the next morning for a fasting glucose test.
On March 25, the patient collapsed and was taken to the hospital. The patient was diagnosed as being in
diabetic ketoacidosis. Initially, it appeared the he would respond to treatment, but late that evening, he took a
significant turn for the worse and died on March 26, at 4:30 a.m. It was determined on autopsy that the
decedent died as a result of hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
The plaintiff contended that the clinic was negligent for failing to forward the call to a
physician who testified that he would have asked the patient and his wife questions specific to
diabetics. The plaintiff further contended that the physicianÆs assistant failed to determine the
cause of this significant weight loss.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff demanded $1 million (polich limits). The defendant made no offer.
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