Delay in Diagnosis of Pneumonia Results in Patient Death and $3.4M Award

​A physician's misdiagnosis of influenza allegedly resulted in the death of a 42-year-old social worker and an award of more than $3.4 million, according to a report (login required) in the October 2015 Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements, & Experts. According to the report, the patient called the defendant's help line and spoke with a nurse, reporting a fever, chills, sore throat, and severe chest pain. She called again the next day and again spoke with a nurse who forwarded her call to a physician. After a four-minute phone call, the physician diagnosed the patient with influenza; another phone call the following day led to the patient being instructed to come in for an examination.