Failure to Diagnose


Case Story 1

The Case:

Gerald saw multiple doctors who failed to diagnose and treat him after experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, and nausea, instead simply sending him home despite his desperate concern. He felt so ill that he visited an emergency room to see yet another doctor, where he was misdiagnosed with heartburn. He later died in his home, leaving his wife to pick up the pieces. She came to Pulley Watson to see what could be done, and seeking closure.

The Results:

Pulley Watson investigated the situation and found that Gerald had in fact died as the result of the negligence of multiple doctors. Our attorneys were able to hold the doctors accountable for their negligence. We helped our client put the pieces of her life back together and provided her with the peace of mind of knowing that those responsible acknowledged their wrong doing.

Case Story 2

The Case:

John was in his 70s, and he was the primary caregiver for his wife, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He was in a car accident, and his neck was broken in two places. But the hospital where he was seen failed to appropriately diagnose the breaks from his x-ray, and the physical therapy he subsequently received caused him to become a quadriplegic. John was moved to intensive care and soon died.

The Investigation:

Pulley Watson was able to prove that the hospital staff and the radiologist were negligent in both their diagnosis and treatment of John. Our attorneys brought forth medical specialists who were able to correctly read the x-rays and describe the necessary medical protocol for this type of accident.

The Results:

Following the successful outcome of the case, Pulley Watson worked closely with the couple's children to make sure that their mother was placed in an appropriate facility, and that a fund was set up to provide her with excellent care for the rest of her life.

Case Story 3

The Case:

Following a chest x-ray, Kent learned that he had stage-four lung cancer, even though no previous cancer had been diagnosed.

The Investigation:

Pulley Watson proved that Kent's cancer had been in a much earlier stage the previous year, and showed up clearly on a chest x-ray that was taken at that time. However, the radiologist who read the x-ray failed to identify the cancer. Our attorneys presented multiple specialists who agreed that the cancer should have been diagnosed at that point, and could have been successfully treated.

The Results:

Pulley Watson helped Kent and his family collect more than a million dollars as a verdict. He died shortly after the case was settled; the money was used to help his wife raise their children, and pay for their education.

Case Story 4

The Case:

Amy, a young mother of a toddler and a newborn, visited the doctor for her routine post-partum follow-up visit. She mentioned that she had a fever, due to an infection from breast-feeding. She also had no spleen – and because of this, she should have been treated for any infection-related fever immediately. However, the doctor did not prescribe any antibiotics. Two days later, Amy was dead. Seeking closure and answers, her husband came to Pulley Watson.

The Results:

Our attorneys were successful in pursuing a judgment against the responsible parties on behalf of Amy's family. Though the money awarded to them could never take the place of their wife and mother, it has given her husband the resources he needs to provide proper care for their children.

Case Story 5

The Case:

Two years in a row, during routine exams Mike's doctor neglected to check his PSA – the screening test for prostate cancer. As a result, diagnosis of his cancer, and possible treatment, was unnecessarily delayed. Mike ultimately died of his prostate cancer.

The Results:

When Mike's family approached Pulley Watson, their main impetus was to prevent anything like this from happening to someone else. Through the lawsuit, our attorneys worked with the family to bring attention to the situation, and helped raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem. We were also able to obtain a fair settlement to help the family resolve their anger over Mike's improper medical care.

NOTE: Names of clients have been changed for confidentiality reasons.