La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Dan Schuman obtained a defense verdict for gastroenterologist in Pinellas County

Lou La Cava and Dan Schuman obtained a defense verdict in a case tried in Pinellas County. The Plaintiff alleged that the defendant gastroenterologist was negligent in performing an unnecessary colonoscopy 6 weeks after a prior colonoscopy. She alleged that the suspicious lesion seen on the colonoscopy was nothing more than a Lipoma (a benign mass) that had been identified on two previous colonoscopies. The plaintiff suffered a perforation during the last colonoscopy and required a right Hemicolectomy. After that surgery the plaintiff complained of fecal incontinence, fecal urgency and uncontrolled diarrhea. The defense argued the colonoscopy was indicated due to the patient’s family history of polyps and colon cancer. It was also argued that the perforation was a known risk of the colonoscopy and occurred without negligence. After a 5 day jury trial a verdict was returned finding the physician not negligent.

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