ERIE, Pa. — A jury in Erie County, Pennsylvania, awarded $7.1 million to a young woman who was left almost entirely blind following a missed diagnosis of a blood clot on her CT scan in November 2020. At the time, Allison Mitchell was just 23 years old when missteps in her medical care led to severe, life-altering consequences.
Mitchell had initially sought treatment at Saint Vincent Hospital for a severe headache, which escalated to the point of causing unconsciousness. There, a CT scan was conducted under the oversight of Dr. Anil K. Bhardwaj, a radiologist affiliated with Foundation Radiology. Despite the clarity of the images according to later court findings, the signs of cerebral venous thrombosis were allegedly missed.
After the initial visit and the lack of alarming findings on her CT scan, Mitchell was discharged with instructions to undergo an MRI—an examination she never received. Several days later, she returned to the hospital still plagued by the headache, which by then had led to significant and irreversible vision loss.
The outcome of the trial, concluding with its judgment on September 27, reflected a stark disagreement with Dr. Bhardwaj’s assertion that the original CT scan did not show any signs of the deadly clot. Contrary to his defense, evidence brought forth during the litigation argued that the scans showed clear indications of abnormalities that suggested cerebral venous thrombosis.
Dominic Guerrini, Mitchell’s attorney from Kline & Specter, shared after the verdict that, “Allison’s courage in the face of her catastrophic injuries has been truly inspiring.” He emphasized that while the legal victory is a reflection of justice, it does not restore what has been lost.
The jury found that Dr. Bhardwaj should bear 90% of the responsibility for the incident, implicating his misreading of the CT scan in the significant physical and emotional toll it took on Mitchell. Meanwhile, Mitchell herself was deemed 10% responsible.
The compensatory figures speak to the depth of impact this error had on Mitchell’s life—$1.28 million for lost future earnings, $3.5 million for pain and suffering, and $2.35 million for medical expenses incurred due to the misdiagnosis.
This case underscores the critical roles accuracy and vigilance play in medical diagnostics and serves as a somber reminder of the consequences when these standards are not met. Medical professionals and institutions are reminded of the necessity to adhere to the highest standards of care to prevent such regrettable incidents from happening. As technology evolves and becomes even more integral to medical processes, the call for rigorous training and continual education in its use becomes increasingly urgent.
Legal experts point out that this case will likely resonate within the medical community and among legal professionals given the substantial award and the lessons it imparts about professional accountability and patient safety.