Couple Wins $6M in Wrongful Death Malpractice Suit

A jury has awarded a couple $6 million in a wrongful death malpractice suit that alleged a medical center failed to properly diagnosis their 6-month-old son.

The lawsuit was filed against Saint Louis University, which was providing hospital services through the SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. According to the suit, Dewayne and Suzanne Blankenship claim that officials at the center "negligently failed to diagnose and treat a bacterial infection" in their 6-month-old son Dylan.

The couple had brought Dylan into the center on June 26, 2002, for symptoms that included a fever, being lethargic and having difficulty breathing. Later on that same day, Dylan was discharged from the hospital. Six days later, he was dead.

"We hope that this verdict will promote change so that another child will not suffer the way Dylan did," said attorney David M. Zevan.

The lawyer also added that the case was filed prior to Missouri's $350,000 damage cap went into effect. According to legal experts, under current law the Blankenship's would not have received any recovery or compensation for the medical negligence that caused the death of their son through the court system.