Medical Verdicts

Depression, anxiety attributed to erroneous HIV diagnosis


 

Richland County (SC) Circuit Court

A woman at 30 weeks’ gestation was diagnosed with HIV.

She began a course of medication that included azidothymidine, but never developed symptoms of HIV. Four years later another laboratory test indicated that the initial HIV diagnosis was incorrect.

In suing, the woman claimed she suffered from severe depression and anxiety as a result of the misdiagnosis.

The hospital contended that it did not violate the patient’s standard of care.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $1.1 million. A posttrial motion to cap damages at $250,000 is pending.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

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