Charles Cole Received Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case

Charles Cole received a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case on July 28, 2011 in the Circuit Court of Stephenson County, Illinois. Mr. Cole represented two Emergency Medicine physicians who were accused of failing to diagnose a pulmonary embolism that ultimately caused the death of a 66 year old male. The decedent had undergone a triple cardiac bypass procedure more than one month before his initial emergency department visit but had been doing well since the surgery and had no signs or symptoms of pulmonary embolism up to his initial emergency department visit. The first defendant physician diagnosed the patient with congestive heart failure and discharged the patient home. Three days later, the patient presented to the same emergency department and was seen by the second defendant physician. The second physician diagnosed the patient with an exacerbated case of congestive heart failure and elected to admit the patient for further workup. The admitting attending physician decided to obtain a CT Scan of the chest which ultimately revealed a massive pulmonary embolism. Surgery to remove the embolism was unsuccessful and the patient expired. Mr. Cole was successful at defending both physicians on the basis that the Standard of Care was met and that the patient’s presentation was unique and atypical for a pulmonary embolism. The jury deliberated for two days.