Date: 10-06-2000

Case Style: Mollie Shaver Ryan, Individually and as Surviving Mother of Charles Kevin Shaver, Deceased; Christina Lee Shaver, Individually and as Surviving Daughter, and Mary Ann Shaver as Surviving Wife Vs. Medical City Dallas Hospital and Questcare Medic

Case Number: 98-9026-E

Judge: Jay Patterson

Court: 101st District Court, Dallas County, Texas

Plaintiff's Attorney: David Terry and Vic Terry of Law Offices of Vic Terry, Dallas, Texas and Scott Ozmun, Austin, Texas

Defendant's Attorney: John Scully and David Olesky of Cooper & Scully, Dallas, Texas Stan Thiebaud and Lynn Sessions of Stinnett, Thiebaud & Remington, Dallas, Texas

Description: Plaintiffs alleged wrongful death of a 42-year-old male as a result of medical malpractice against the hospital, against the emergency room doctor, and against the emergency room nurses. Plaintiffs alleged that the defendants failed to diagnose peritonitis and septic shock in the decedent. Decedent was taken to the emergency room via ambulance. Plaintiff was treated for most of the day, plaintiff requested to go home, and was finally discharged--after repeated requests to go home and claims that he was feeling all right. Plaintiff was taken home by taxi cab, collapsed on the sidewalk outside his apartment, and was found by neighbors who called the ambulance. Plaintiff was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. From time of discharge from Medical City Dallas until he collapsed on the sidewalk and was found by neighbors was less than 30 minutes.

Outcome: Defense verdict

Plaintiff's Experts: Dr. Stephen Barnes, M.D., Houston, Texas, expert on general surgery Dr. William McCallum, M.D., Houston, Texas, expert on emergency room medicine Elda Ramirez, RN, Houston, Texas, expert on nursing and emergency room nursing

Defendant's Experts: Dr. Rod Stonedale, M.D., Fort Worth, Texas, expert on emergency room medicine Dr. dan Peckenpaugh, M.D., Dallas, Texas, expert on emergency room medicine

Comments: Reported by David W. Langford