NYC Hospital Held Liable in Wrongful Death of 23-Year-Old Woman

The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Firm, a team of New York medical malpractice attorneys and wrongful death lawyers, secured a plaintiff's verdict against NYC Health + Hospitals for the death of a 23-year-old woman who died after receiving substandard care at Woodhull Hospital. Attorneys Kevin Lee and Rikki Dascal litigated the case, which centered on a 12-hour delay in treating diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The woman arrived at the emergency room in February 2020 with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Although lab results showed signs of pancreatitis and DKA, physicians treated only the pancreatitis and failed to administer insulin for 12 hours. During cross-examination, the treating physician conceded that the delay fell below the standard of care. Even when insulin was finally given, it was the wrong type for her condition. The patient's condition worsened, and she died two and a half weeks later. Expert witnesses from Harvard and Johns Hopkins testified that the delay significantly reduced her chance of survival. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a verdict for the plaintiff. NYC Health + Hospitals argued that a busy emergency room caused the delay, but the jury rejected that defense. The firm highlighted research showing that low-income and minority patients often face longer ER waits and lower quality care, stressing the need for consistent standards across all hospitals.