Settlement: $2,875,000
Brain Damage/Adult

A 40 year old man had a tumor in his adrenal gland ("aldosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma") which caused him to have severe high blood pressure ("hypertension"). Although he had definite clinical, chemical and radiological evidence for the tumor, his internist failed to make the diagnosis for nearly four (4) years. During this time, the blood pressure remained out of control, eventually leading to a rupture of a cerebral aneurysm which caused a major stoke; as well as cardiac complications, including cardiac arrest. Finally, the proper diagnosis was made at another institution, but the man is left with permanent brain damage.

The internist contributed $1,000,000 to settle his portion of the case. Most of the remaining portion of the settlement was paid by a radiologist who failed to detect the adrenal tumor on an abdominal CAT scan.