Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Results in $15M Award

Two doctors in Boston committed medical malpractice that resulted in the death of a 3-year old boy, according a verdict by a Massachusetts jury that awarded the boy’s family $15 million.

The verdict was handed down last week by a Suffolk County Superior Court jury in a Massachusetts medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. James Lock and Dr. James A. DiNardo of Children’s Hospital Boston. The family of Jason Fox, who died at age 3 in December 2004, alleged that the doctors botched a procedure intended to fix a heart birth defect.

According to a report in the Boston Globe, the parties reached an agreement before the verdict, which will limit the amount of the actual damages paid to the family.

Did You Know?

Change Healthcare Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

A massive Change Healthcare data breach exposed the names, social security numbers, medical and personal information of potentially 100 million Americans, which have now been released on the dark web. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

Learn More

Fox had a heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, which restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to organs and limbs. He underwent eight procedures at different facilities before being referred to Children’s Hospital Boston, where they attempted to widen his pulmonary arteries.

But Fox suffered brain damage after a contrasting agent, injected to help give better CAT scan results, leaked into his brain. The contrast dye caused Jason to suffer a seizure and brain damage. It was also discovered that there was a small piece of metal lodged in his brain which possibly broke off during an earlier procedure.

When he was discharged from the hospital, the boy had lost the ability to speak and walk. The family alleged that doctors withheld information about his treatment, and the Board of Registration in Medicine is investigating Lock, DiNardo and Dr. Peter Laussen, the head of the hospital’s cardiac intensive care unit. Laussen and one other doctor were found to be negligent, but not responsible for Fox’s death.

The jury awarded the boy’s parents $5 million for his pain and suffering, $5 million for the loss of a child, and $5 million for his wrongful death. Details of the agreement reached before the verdict were not publicized, so it is unclear exactly how much the family will receive.

4 Comments

  • CindyJanuary 31, 2011 at 3:49 am

    This is to Jean, Really?? by the same dr. meaning Dr. Lock? He's done several caths on my child....worried about my child being there....please tell me what happened?

  • JeanJuly 26, 2010 at 1:33 am

    My son died from similar treatment. And he was trested by the same doctor

  • WilliamDecember 30, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    One should ask, did the surgeons talk with the Father,Mother etc. And discuss the prior surgeries and the very high risk of another. If not then the DR.S were wrong if so then the jury was wrong along with the family. Surgery and anesthesia is always a risk and must be explained to every PT.

  • SteveDecember 24, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    Sad case, but it makes me wonder why any surgeon would even attempt to help such a child (heart defect, 8 prior procedures) given the ri$ks of failure.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Warnings Added to Drug Label in Europe, But Not In U.S.
Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Warnings Added to Drug Label in Europe, But Not In U.S. (Posted yesterday)

A recently filed Depo-Provera lawsuit questions why Pfizer updated the drug label in Europe, to warn about the risk of meningioma brain tumors, but failed to provide the same Depo-Provera warnings to U.S. consumers and doctors.

Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Status Conference To Be Held With MDL Judge This Week
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Status Conference To Be Held With MDL Judge This Week (Posted 3 days ago)

U.S. District Judge presiding over all federal hair relaxer lawsuits will meet with lawyers involved in the litigation on Thursday, to discuss the status of the claims and when to move forward with bellwether cases.