$644,000 Jury Verdict in Failure to Refer Patient to Cardiologist

Robert Suryadeth, 64, suffered from valvular heart disease. He was about to undergo outpatient surgery for his back problems. He met with an internist, Dr. Aruna Paspula, who had never before treated or seen Suryadeth.

Dr. Paspula did an electrocardiogram and listened to Suryadeth’s heart. Dr. Paspula cleared Suryadeth for surgery.

After the surgery, Suryadeth was discharged to go home. He died later that day. An autopsy showed that there were three blocked coronary arteries that undoubtedly were related to the cardiac arrest that caused his death. Suryadeth was survived by his wife and three children.

The Suryadeth estate and family sued Dr. Paspula who was hired by Suryadeth’s regular internist to see patients while she was away. The primary care physician’s practice was also named as a party defendant.

The lawsuit alleged liability for Dr. Paspula’s failure to refer Suryadeth to a cardiologist before clearing him for surgery in view of his medical history and the results of the electrocardiogram, which plaintiff claimed was abnormal.

It was also maintained that had Suryadeth been referred to a cardiologist, he would have undergone stenting of the blocked arteries. With the stenting it was claimed that Suryadeth would not have died. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.

The jury signed a verdict for more than $644,300.

The attorneys successfully representing Suryadeth were James Cardea and Jonathan Goldberg.

Suryadeth v. Paspula, No. 423906-V (Md. Cir. Ct. Montgomery County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death lawsuits, medical malpractice cases, cardiology negligence lawsuits and birth trauma injury lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or killed by the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Oak Park, Melrose Park, Berkeley, Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Chicago (Lawndale, Little Village, Brighton Park, Stockyard, Canaryville, Bridgeport, Roscoe Village, West Town, Greek Town), Morton Grove, Buffalo Grove and Arlington Heights, Ill.