Failure to Diagnose Appendicitis Leads to Ruptured Appendix, $2.5M Settlement

​Physicians in New York agreed to a settlement of $2.5 million to resolve allegations that they failed to order blood work or radiographs for a patient who sought care for persistent abdominal pain. The patient's appendix ruptured and he developed sepsis as a result, according to a report in the May 2017 Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts (subscription required). The 40-year-old patient presented to the medical clinic complaining of abdominal pain and failure to pass gas for several days. The plaintiff contended that these signs should have prompted the physicians to consider appendicitis, which would have required further investigation such as ordering radiography or blood work. The plaintiff maintained that the physicians instead sent him home with instructions to return in about three weeks if the symptoms continued.