Seeger Weiss Obtains $1.7 Million Recovery for Physician’s Failure to Diagnose Renal Disease in Timely Manner

In a medical malpractice case pending in Supreme Court, Bronx County, Seeger Weiss came to a $1.7 million settlement agreement earlier this month on behalf of a client who has been diagnosed with end stage renal disease.

The case, brought against our client’s primary care physician, alleged that the physician’s failed to recognize signs and symptoms of kidney dysfunction over a period of nearly two years. In addition, this failure to diagnose and treat the client’s condition in its early stages was a significant factor in our client’s current diagnosis of advanced renal disease.

“This case underscores the importance of closely monitoring even routine blood test results,” said Seeger Weiss partner Marc S. Albert. “Simply put, this client’s kidney disease should have been diagnosed much earlier than it ultimately was. Unfortunately, blood tests over nearly a two year period, which showed elevated and continuously rising Creatinine and BUN levels—clear indications of renal disease—were not being carefully reviewed by his physician.”

During the course of the case, our client appeared on a CBS News special highlighting a problem that has become somewhat endemic in the medical field: physicians’ cavalier approach to reviewing patient’s test results. CBS, in a recent news story, reported on a number of patients—including our client—who had serious medical conditions slip through the cracks when test results were not carefully evaluated by their physician.

“We are extremely satisfied with what we feel is a just result for our client in this case,” said Mr. Albert.