Kreisman Law Offices Professional Corporation
Anna Rahm, 17, began experiencing back pain without relief. Anna’s parents took her to a chiropractor who suggested that she be taken to a physician so that she could undergo an MRI scan. Anna met with her primary care physician at Southern California Permanente Medical Group and was prescribed steroids.
Anna’s mother requested that Anna receive an MRI in light of her 8 months of back pain. However, the doctor said that she could not authorize the test. Anna consulted a physical medicine physician at the HMO clinic who denied her request for an MRI and instead recommended an epidural injection and exercise.
Anna’s back pain increased despite attempts to treat it with acupuncture.
Anna’s mother then talked to the physical medicine specialist and again made the request for an MRI scan. The physician denied the request and instead referred Anna to physical therapy, which she was forced to discontinue because of her extreme pain.
Two months later, Anna finally underwent an MRI, which revealed an aggressive pelvic mass. She was subsequently diagnosed as having osteosarcoma and underwent chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including amputation of her right leg and portions of her pelvis and spine.
Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that affects the large bones of the arms or legs. It is most commonly found in younger people.
The Rahm family sued Southern California Permanente claiming that it chose not to timely diagnose Anna’s aggressive bone cancer by, among other things, choosing not to order a timely MRI. The jury awarded Anna Rahm $28.2 million in damages.
The attorneys representing Anna Rahm were Michael J. Bidart and Danica Dougherty.
At trial, the Rahm experts included a family medicine physician and an orthopedic surgeon. The defense utilized medical experts in orthopedic oncology, oncology and psychiatry.
Rahm v. Southern Cal. Permanente Medical Group, No. BC441742 (Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles County, March 25, 2015).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling hospital negligence cases, medical malpractice cases, birth injury cases and birth trauma cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of a medical provider for more than 38 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas including, Lemont, Deerfield, Inverness, Antioch, Grayslake, Naperville, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Lake Zurich, Forest Park, Crestwood, Elmhurst and Rosemont, Ill.
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