By Chris Foreman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
A Fayette County woman's survivors have reached a settlement in a medical malpractice case stemming from her death in 2002 after she complained to doctors about pain in her chest and abdomen.
Johanna L. Rice, 36, of Menallen Township, died Feb. 23, 2002, two weeks after reporting the discomfort and an elevated heart rate to physicians at Cherry Tree Urgent Care in South Union Township.
Rice had been a nurse's aide at Cherry Tree Nursing Center, in South Union.
Rice's daughter, Maranda Rice, and mother, Pamela Sokol, pursued the lawsuit against Cherry Tree Urgent Care, a Cherry Tree general partner, Dr. Kishor Joshi, and Mountainview Medical Associates. Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday morning before Judge John F. Wagner Jr.
Pittsburgh pathologist Cyril H. Wecht ruled that Rice died from massive bleeding in the tissue surrounding the heart after a rupture of the aortic wall associated with a dissecting aneurysm.
After seeking medical attention Feb. 8, 2002, Rice was diagnosed as having anxiety attacks and a peptic ulcer and was told to treat the conditions with Pepcid AC and Xanax, according to a statement of facts filed by the plaintiffs.
Five days later, when Rice complained of sharp pains and burning in her abdomen and chest, an echocardiogram showed evidence of an aortic dissection. However, the condition was not diagnosed, and Rice was told to continue taking the previously prescribed medicines, according to the plaintiffs.
Michael C. George, the plaintiffs' attorney, confirmed the settlement yesterday but declined to comment because of nondisclosure requirements in medical malpractice settlements.
An attorney for Joshi and Mountainview, John K. Heisey, did not immediately return a message requesting comment.
