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Defense Verdict for Hospital
Following a trial in Supreme Court, Suffolk County, extending from October 1st to October 27th 2009, a jury of six unanimously found that a patient was given proper verbal and written instructions at the time of discharge from the hospital. The patient had been treated for atrial fibrillation, and discharged with a prescription for Coumadin. He claimed that he was never told to see his doctor or get his blood tested while on Coumadin. Five weeks after discharge, he suffered an intracranial hemorrhage. He was found to have an INR well above the desired therapeutic range. He claimed to have lost his memory of the hospitalization as a result of the hemorrhage. His wife testified that the discharge nurse gave no verbal instructions, and merely requested his signature on the written instructions. She testified that the transport aide told them to leave the clipboard with the instructions in the room. She also testified that she subsequently called and offered to return to pick up the instructions, but was told not to. The testimony was sharply disputed by the discharge nurse. The jury resolved the factual dispute in the nurse’s favor. The plaintiffs also asserted claims against three doctors, represented by others, all of whom also were vindicated. The hospital was represented at trial by James M. Furey, Jr.