$2.7 Million Jury Verdict for Wrongful Death Caused by Misread CT Scan

Gail Ingram was 61 years old when she went to a hospital emergency room complaining of abdominal pain. She underwent a CT scan, which was interpreted by radiologist Dr. Barbara Blanco as showing possible pancreatitis, a gallstone and no acute bowel findings.

After a four-day hospital stay, Ingram was instructed to consult her primary care physician and was discharged. Less than two years later, she returned to the emergency room suffering from abdominal pain once again. The CT scan this time revealed a 4-cm lung mass, which led to a lung cancer diagnosis.

Ingram, whose cancer was diagnosed then at Stage IV, died just a month later. She was survived by her husband and two adult children.

Ingram’s husband, on behalf of her estate, sued Dr. Blanco, alleging that she was negligent in misreading the first CT scan, which showed a 1-cm nodule at the base of Ingram’s right lung. It was claimed that had the nodule been correctly reported, she could have been treated with a lobectomy and chemotherapy, which would have given her a 70% chance of survival. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.

The jury signed a verdict for $2.7 million for this wrongful death lawsuit.

At trial, the attorneys for the Ingram family presented experts in radiology and oncology.

The attorneys successfully handling this case were Steven Errante and Marisa Bellair.

Ingram v. Blanco, No. DBD-CV 16-6020056-S (Conn. Jud. Dist. Danbury).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling misdiagnosis of lung cancer cases, wrongful death lawsuits, radiology negligence cases, labor and delivery negligence cases, birth trauma injury lawsuits, physician negligence lawsuits and hospital negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Winnetka, Justice, Willow Springs, Evergreen Park, LaGrange, Brookfield, North Riverside, Melrose Park, Chicago (Albany Park, West Rogers Park, Forest Glen, Edison Park, Avondale, Portage Park, Hermosa, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Near West Side, Wicker Park, Little Village, Bridgeport, Douglas, Canaryville, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, South Lawn, Marquette Park, Chicago Lawn, Washington Heights), Schiller Park, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Orland Park and Prospect Heights, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.