Jury Clears Doctors Implicated in Death of Patient

By Brittany Golledge

Published on September 22, 2005

Joanne Dusel, whose husband, Tom Dusel, passed away in November of 2002, filed the lawsuit against four parties: Dr. Richard Nangle, Dr. Brian Brundage, Auburn Memorial Hospital, and Internal Medicine Associates of Auburn.

Tom Dusel had been taken to Auburn Memorial Hospital after complaining of throat pains. At Auburn memorial he was examined by both doctors, treated with medication, and released. Dusel returned to the Hospital the next day after his throat had swollen up; he later went into respiratory arrest and died the following day from complications associated with a rare condition, epiglottitis.

In the lawsuit, Joanne Dusel alleged that both physicians had been negligent in failing to diagnose and treat her husband's condition. An attorney representing Brundage and Auburn Memorial Hospital pointed out that the Dusels were told to return to the hospital immediately for further treatment if Tom's condition worsened; unfortunately, they did not return as soon as they could have after Tom's throat began to swell. Both doctors argued that they never deviated from the appropriate standard of care.

The jury agreed. After less than a half hour of deliberations, both doctors were cleared of any wrongdoing.

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