Columbia, Md. – A Howard County jury has awarded a $7.25 million verdict in a notable medical malpractice lawsuit following the death of 23-year-old Zion Lewis, a student at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. Lewis died from a recurrent pulmonary embolism five weeks after his doctor replaced his blood thinner medication with baby aspirin.
Lewis had initially visited an emergency room a year and a half prior, experiencing severe shortness of breath. It was then that he was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition involving partial blood vessel blockages in both lungs, contributing to his death in December 2021 at his mother’s house.
According to court documents, Lewis’s health had shown signs of improvement before the fateful medical decision was made by Dr. Yousuf Abdul Gaffar. Gaffar had advised Lewis not to continue his Pradaxa prescription after he expressed intentions to undergo surgery for a facial lipoma, a non-malignant growth.
Tragically, the young man’s body was discovered by his mother, Sandra Christie, in his bedroom while he was home for a college break. Devastated by their loss, Lewis’s parents, Sandra Christie and Toby Lewis, from York County, Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit against Gaffar and Maryland Oncology Hematology in May 2023.
The compensation awarded by the jury included $3.75 million to Christie, $3 million to Toby Lewis, and $500,000 to the estate of Zion Lewis. Discussions for settlements prior to the trial did not yield results.
Represented by attorneys Marissa Joelson and Aaron Parker of Peter Angelos Law, the family argued that Lewis should have continued his initial treatment indefinitely. The verdict handed down is considered one of the largest for a medical malpractice case in the history of Howard County.
Will Minkin, a partner at Peter Angelos Law, praised the attorneys’ dedication, stating that the historic decision serves as a continuation of the firm’s commitment to securing justice for victims and their families.
The defense, led by Charles “Chad” Joseph and Luciana Brienza of Baxter Baker Sidle Conn & Jones, maintained that Dr. Gaffar provided appropriate care under the circumstances. Joseph commended Gaffar’s professionalism and dedication as a hematologist, suggesting that the jury’s decision may not align with the reality of the evidence presented.
Maryland Oncology Hematology has yet to comment on the verdict. Records indicate Dr. Gaffar recently joined AdventHealth Porter Cancer Center in Denver as a medical oncologist/hematologist.
The trial, overseen by Circuit Court Judge Lara Weathersbee, highlights the complex nature of medical treatment and the judicial recourse available to those who suffer from potential medical misjudgments.
In the wake of this legal resolution, the case underscores the delicate balance physicians must maintain in patient care and the severe implications that can arise when treatments do not proceed as intended.
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