Wayne Reynolds, 64, who had a history of smoking and high cholesterol, experienced rapid heartbeat and other problems over the course of several years. He consulted a cardiologist, Dr. Norma Khoury, who ordered an EKG.
The EKG showed an ST segment depression, prompting Dr. Khoury to order a stress test and a follow-up evaluation.
The heart center that was to administer the test informed Reynolds that it would have to be rescheduled due to staffing issues.
Reynolds later underwent the resting portion of the stress test, but he could not complete the test until the next day because he had consumed caffeine that morning.
The next day Reynolds underwent the rest of the stress test. However, due to the delay that day, he did not have his scheduled follow-up meeting with Dr. Khoury.
A heart center technician entered his test results for Dr. Khoury’s review. Reynolds, who had rescheduled with Dr. Khoury in about two weeks, then experienced unbearable radiating neck and shoulder pain.
Reynolds subsequently went to an emergency room at a nearby hospital where a cardiac workup showed that he was suffering a heart attack resulting from a 98-percent blockage in three arteries. He was unable to undergo bypass surgery immediately and died the next day. He was survived by his wife and four adult children.
Reynolds’s wife on behalf of his estate filed a lawsuit against Dr. Khoury and the heart center claiming they chose not to apprise him of the stress test results, which showed significant problems, and chose not to ensure a timely follow-up appointment in light of the stress test results.
The doctor and heart center argued that Reynolds had been noncompliant in that he chose not to stop smoking or undergo a stress test years before. The defendants also alleged that Reynolds should have gone to a hospital emergency room sooner in view of his severe pain.
The jury entered a verdict of $2 million finding that the heart center was 75% at fault and Dr. Khoury 25% at fault. The attorney representing the Reynolds family was Robert B. Ranson.
Reynolds v. Khoury, No. 2013 CP 4000785 (S.C. Ct. Com. Pleas Richland County, March 24, 2015).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence cases, wrongful death cases, birth trauma injury cases and hospital negligence 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, Crestwood, Cicero, Country Club Hills, Morton Grove, Evergreen Park, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Maywood, LaGrange Park, Homewood, Hickory Hills, Hanover Park, Harvey, Golf, Chicago (Bronzeville, South Loop, Roscoe Village, Pilsen, Pill Hill, Oz Park, Morgan Park, Loyola Park, Lithuanian Plaza, Garfield Ridge, Chinatown, Bronzeville, Austin), River Forest and Norwood Park, Ill.
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