Medical negligence trial arising from an emergency department assessment of a young adult who was discharged with a viral illness diagnosis, returned the next day in respiratory distress, and died from bacterial pneumonia complications.
The plaintiffs alleged the emergency physicians breached the standard of care by failing to investigate pneumonia with chest X-ray and bloodwork and that earlier diagnosis would have prevented death.
The court held the patient’s presentation on the first attendance was consistent with viral illness, did not objectively indicate pneumonia, and did not require those investigations.
Apart from a technical charting omission regarding the respiratory examination, no breach was established, and the plaintiffs failed to prove on a balance of probabilities that earlier testing or treatment would have changed the outcome.
