Internist’s Failure to Rule Out Stroke Results in $6.37 Million Jury Verdict

Myrna Rawdin underwent an MRI to rule out a brain tumor. She was 63 years old at the time. The MRI results showed no tumor, but it did not rule out a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Over one year later, when she experienced lightheadedness, garbled speech and headaches lasting three days, she consulted her internist, Dr. Mark Real. Dr. Real diagnosed impacted earwax and irrigated Rawdin’s ears.

At the end of the same month, she suffered a massive stroke that left her with left-sided weakness, including foot drop and almost no use of her left arm. She continues to require weekly physical therapy and is confined to a wheelchair.

Rawdin and her husband brought a lawsuit against Dr. Real claiming that he chose not to diagnose TIA a month before the stroke. The lawsuit claimed that the defendant Dr. Real should have referred her for a carotid ultrasound, which would have prompted a carotid endarterectomy to remove plaque buildup — treatment that would have averted the massive stroke.

The jury signed a verdict in favor of Myrna Rawdin and her husband in the amount of $6.3 million.

The attorneys representing the Rawdin family were Robert F. Morris and Seth D. Wilson. At trial, plaintiffs’ counsel engaged the expert testimony of a neurologist. The defendant offered up the testimony of a neurosurgeon.

Rawdin v. Real, No. 2006-00386 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pleas Montgomery County, March 26, 2015).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling physician negligence cases, medical malpractice cases, birth injury cases and hospital negligence cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Niles, Lockport, Lake Forest, Round Lake Beach, St. Charles, Geneva, Hinsdale, Evergreen Park, Elmwood Park, Cicero, Worth, Skokie, Chicago (Archer Heights, Brighton Park, Little Village, Lawndale, Garfield Park, Belmont Heights), Harwood Heights and North Riverside, Ill.

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