Maricopa County Jury Issues Verdict in Medical Negligence Wrongful Death

On March 9, 1997, a 14-year-old patient sustained injuries in an automobile collision and was transported by air ambulance to Maricopa Medical Center in Maricopa County, Arizona. There, an attending surgeon and two residents evaluated the patient. A CAT scan showed no signs of spinal injuries or bowel perforation, and the patient remained under observation. The following day, March 10, 1997, the patient died from septic shock, attributed to undiagnosed small bowel perforations.

The plaintiffs, representing the deceased, subsequently filed a lawsuit. They alleged spoliation of evidence and negligence, claiming the medical staff failed to adequately monitor the patient and properly diagnose the condition. The defendant attending surgeon contended that the residents did not inform him of the patient's deteriorating condition. The county defendants argued that the patient did not exhibit signs or symptoms consistent with a perforated bowel.

Both sides presented expert testimony during the three-week trial. Jurors deliberated for one day. However, the available record does not specify the jury's verdict or the final outcome of the case.