Family Wins $3M Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Verdict

The family of a Connecticut man won $3 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit after the man died of a preventable heart attack. The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed by Cynthia Olsen, the wife of Andrew J. Olsen, against Mr. Olsen’s primary physician and his cardiologist. The jury ruled that the primary care physician, Dr. Stephen Bryant, was liable for 60 percent of the verdict and that the cardiologist, Dr. Darius Owlia, was responsible for 40 percent.

Details of the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

The medical malpractice lawsuit showed that Mr. Olsen had a rare cardiac condition known as aortic stenosis. The disease leads to a narrowing of the aortic valve, which can decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body. The medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that Dr. Owlia failed to examine ultrasound images of Mr. Olsen’s heart in January 2008 and was unaware of the disease. The suit also alleged that, if the doctors had communicated better, Mr. Olsen could have underwent valve replacement surgery to repair his condition.

Timeline of the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Records from the medical malpractice lawsuit showed that Mr. Olsen underwent an echocardiogram test in January 2008. Dr. Bryant sent the images to Dr. Owlia, who then ordered Mr. Olsen to undergo a stress test. The stress test showed that Mr. Olsen’s heart was working at a reduced level, but did not reveal the aortic stenosis. The medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that, as his condition worsened, Mr. Olsen was no longer a candidate for valve replacement surgery. Mr. Olsen died at the age of 67 in May 2009.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Shows Deteriorating Conditions

Medical reports from the medical malpractice lawsuit also showed that Mr. Olsen suffered from respiratory problems and leg edema. Dr. Bryant prescribed large doses of diuretics to flush out Mr. Olsen’s system. The medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that, if the two doctors had communicated better, Mr. Olsen would not have suffered such adverse effects. Instead, Dr. Oliwa did not look at the images from Dr. Bryant’s examination, nor did he order an additional echocardiogram test that would have detected the aortic stenosis.

Results of Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Testimony in the medical malpractice lawsuit took six days. The testimony included Dr. Bryant’s admission of responsibility for Mr. Olsen’s death. Dr. Bryant was no longer a defendant in the case at that point, but Mrs. Olsen’s lawyers did not say if the family and the doctor had reached a previous out-of-court settlement. The jury in the medical malpractice lawsuit deliberated for only five hours before delivering their verdict on Dr. Owlia’s liability in the case. Dr. Owlia has since retired from practicing medicine.

Source: Hartford Courant

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