This case centres on Sue Shadrick (plaintiff), representative of the estate of William Harold Shadrick, deceased vs Wilfredo Grana, M.D (defendant). William Shadrick presented at the Northeast Alabama Regional Hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath and subsequently diagnosed with a heart attack.
Dr. Grana an internist and hospitalist, admitted him to the hospital. On admission, despite signs of cardiogenic shock, Dr. Onyekwere, the cardiologist, went home without seeing William. All signs got worse, leading to cardiac arrest and eventual death through insufficient oxygen to the brain. Heart catheterization performed post cardiac arrest showed heart blockages which could have been bypassed with surgery if discovered earlier.
Shadrick sued Dr. Grana, stating that he breached the standard of care by not communicating William's case as an emergency to Dr. Onyekwere, but the court granted the summary judgment in favour of Grana, asserting that only an expert can explain the standard of care and whether it was breached in this case.
Standard of Care Expert Not Certified by same Medical Board as Defendant and Not Similarly Situated
$300,000 Judgment Reversed: Nurse Did Not Qualify as a Similarly Situated Health Provider Given Lack of Experience with Similar Patients
A Prospective Expert Should Be Board-Certified at the Time of Testimony
Plaintiff Argued Case was Simple Enough to be Understood by Lay Person - Summary Judgment Reversed
Expert Not Required where a Pharmacy Dispenses Incorrect Medication
Standard of Care Expert Excluded for not being a "Similarly Situated Healthcare Provider"
Medical Chart Was Not Required to Be Attached to Affidavit
Plaintiff's Failed to Present Expert Testimony that Nurses Breached Applicable Standard of Care
Expert's Affidavit did nto Contradict Deposition Testimony as they were Based on Separate Sets of Facts
New Trial was Granted Because Jury may have been Unduly Influenced by Exposure to Dismissed Evidence