Medical Malpractice: Verdicts, Settlements, and Experts

On November 14, 2016, the plaintiff presented to the defendant's office for her annual health review. The defendant wrote the plaintiff a ninety-day prescription for Buproprion XL, with three, three-hundred milligram tablets to be taken once a day for a total of nine hundred milligrams a day. The new prescription doubled the plaintiff's intake of Buproprian XL: she had been taking three, one one hundred-fifty milligram tablets daily. The plaintiff continued with the new dosage for three months, even though the dosage guidelines state the maximum dosage is four hundred-fifty milligrams per day. On February 26, 2017, the plaintiff's husband noticed that the plaintiff was having difficulty following a conversation. He called EMS, who noted that the plaintiff was confused and agitated. On March 17, 2017, the plaintiff suffered a seizure and landed on her shoulder when she fell. The plaintiff dislocated her shoulder, and she required rotator cuff surgery. On March 21, 2017, the plaintiff presented to the defendant's office, where he noted that the increased dosage of Wellbutrin did lower the plaintiff's seizure threshold. The plaintiff was unable to work due to her injuries and her anti-seizure medication. This case settled for an undisclosed amount prior to suit being filed.