Golden v. Central Florida Health

Summary

A Florida state court jury delivered a defense verdict clearing an emergency room physician of responsibility for allegedly failing to diagnose a fatal hole in a woman's throat following an endoscopy procedure.

The Sumter County jury returned their verdict the same day they heard closing arguments in a trial that began June 17. Plaintiff Patrick Golden accused Dr. Frank Cantrell of failing to order a crucial chest x-ray that would have revealed the perforation and saved his wife Joyce's life, but the defense successfully argued Joyce presented in the emergency room with symptoms indicating pancreatitis - another common endoscopy complication.

Outcome

Verdict for the defense.