Megan Kures obtained a defense verdict on behalf of two hospitalists following a two-week trial in Middlesex Superior Court. The case involved the unexpected death of a 29-year-old patient who was admitted for management of pancreatitis in the setting of binge drinking. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to properly treat and monitor the decedent following his admission to a medical floor. The decedent experienced a sudden arrest the night after he was admitted in the setting of a possible seizure. The defense presented detailed testimony concerning the management of pancreatitis and the expected trajectory of the decedent’s condition leading up to the unexpected arrest. The evidence established that the decedent’s symptoms were consistent with his diagnosis and history and that he appeared stable and overall improved leading up to the arrest. The jury deliberated for just over two hours before returning a verdict finding that the defendants were not negligent.
