Published: October 29, 2008 09:05 am         

Jury finds for two physicians

The wrongful death suit against Hillcrest Healthcare Systems and Doctors David R. Ring and Micah Hale ended with a unanimous verdict in their favor Tuesday.

The suit was filed by Anthony Davis and his two minor children for the death of Patricia Sue Davis on May 17, 2003.

The Davises alleged her death was preventable with proper care and

diagnosis.

Davis had a history of headaches and was seen in the emergency room on April 28, 2003. She was seen again by Dr. Ring on May 5, 2003, and Dr. Hale on May 9, 2003.

In all three visits, she exhibited similar symptoms of headache, nausea and dizziness.

Davis returned to the hospital May 13 in extreme pain. A subarachnoid hemorrhage was diagnosed and she was taken to a Tulsa hospital, where she later died from complications.

Testimony for the trail wrapped up Monday and jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday.

Ring’s attorney said Davis wasn’t an emergent patient on May 9 and he acted properly in waiting to order an MRI. He said if Davis was suffering from

a subarachnoid hemorrhage, she would have exhibited the same symptoms the doctor saw on May 13.

Hale’s attorney, Terry Todd, agreed, saying a subarachnoid hemorrhage causes symptoms of sudden and extreme pain. He said when Davis showed up at the hospital on May 13, 2003, her symptoms were consistent with a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

In less than three hours, the jury returned with a verdict for Dr. Ring and Dr. Hale.

     

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