Molly Craig and Robert H. Hood, Jr. Received Defense Verdict in Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Jury Trial

IADC members Molly Craig and Robert H. Hood, Jr., along with associate Brian E. Johnson, received a defense verdict on December 15, 2011 after a seven day wrongful death medical malpractice jury trial in the Circuit Court of South Carolina, Charleston County. The estate brought suit for the death of a 51 year old mother of two who died after receiving gadolinium for an MRI with contrast dye. The decedent presented to a diagnostic radiology suite for an MRI with contrast for ongoing back pain. Shortly after receiving the contrast dye, the decedent had a reaction, resulting in a seizure. Following the seizure, the Defendant radiologist assessed and monitored the decedent while she was in a postictal state and arranged for transfer of the patient to the Emergency Department for further evaluation. During the transport to the hospital, the patient expired.

The Plaintiff’s expert alleged the doctor failed to timely respond to the patient having a contrast reaction to the dye and failed to treat the patient for anaphylactic shock by not giving any medicine, both of which resulted in her death. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as anaphylaxis. The defense presented testimony that the decedent did not have the medical signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and the doctor properly treated the patient for a seizure. Additionally, the defense disputed the cause of death in the autopsy report by proving the decedent had cocaine metabolites in her system which resulted in a drug toxicity and her death was ultimately caused by a cardiac arrhythmia and resulting cardiac arrest. The jury returned a verdict for the defense after deliberating for two hours and fifteen minutes.