FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A jury in Broward County has awarded nearly $32 million to the estate of a man who died after the Cleveland Clinic Florida failed to put him in intensive care following septic shock. The jury found the hospital negligent, resulting in a $30 million award for present and future pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and guidance to the patient’s minor daughter. An additional $1.9 million was awarded for medical expenses, funeral services, and loss of support.
The patient, Saverio Sasso, 51, sought medical attention at the Cleveland Clinic emergency department in September 2018 due to severe back pain. Prior to this, he had visited urgent care facilities as he experienced a burning sensation during urination, nausea, fever, and a urinary tract infection. At the time of his arrival at the Cleveland ER, he was at a high risk of septic shock due to an internal infection, according to the lawsuit.
However, instead of admitting him to an acute intensive care unit, the hospital placed Sasso in an intermediate step-down unit for observation, the complaint alleged. His condition deteriorated overnight, leading to a rapid response team being summoned the next day. Personnel attempted to intubate Sasso, but the procedure was unsuccessful until an anesthesiologist arrived. This left the patient without oxygen for 14 minutes, the lawsuit claimed. Sasso passed away a week later.
The Cleveland Clinic, a not-for-profit organization, denied most of the allegations in the complaint and argued that Sasso’s death was a result of congenital medical conditions, not negligence on the part of the hospital staff.
The plaintiff’s attorneys, Diana Santa Maria, David Carter, and Dane Ullian, also asked the judge to sanction the clinic officials for withholding emails that allegedly supported the fact that the intubation was initiated by a resident rather than a fellow at the hospital.
During the trial, the heirs’ lawyers accused the Cleveland Clinic of offering questionable “new stories” in an apparent attempt to divert attention from damaging evidence.
As of now, clinic officials have not responded to requests for comment.
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