Malpractice suit ends in $1.25 million award
An Emmaus family said doctors failed to diagnose and treat a boy’s kidney disorder. It took jury 3½ hours to agree.
A Northampton County jury awarded $1.25 million to an Emmaus family that claimed pediatricians failed to diagnose and treat a boy’s kidney disorder.
The jury deliberated about 3½ hours Friday before finding that Drs. Stanley and Richard Stein were responsible for what happened to Connor Keim, son of Donna and Eric Keim. The Steins practice in Allentown and Bethlehem.
The trial, which began Monday, was heard by Senior Judge James C. Hogan. Todd S. Miller of Allentown represented the Keims. Attorney Michael Mumper of Norristown represented the doctors.
Connor, born in May 1993, failed to thrive, and at nearly a year old weighed only 14 pounds, 7 ounces, Miller said. The baby was also about 2 inches shorter than he should have been.
He later developed rickets.
What the family didn’t know, Miller said, was that Connor had a web of tissue in his urethra, which obstructed the flow of urine and put pressure on his kidneys.
Miller said the condition could have been diagnosed with a blood test and corrected with simple surgery.
However, because the condition went undetected, Connor’s kidneys were severely damaged.
In July 1999, both kidneys stopped functioning, Miller said, and Connor had a transplant, with his mother as the donor.
Miller said Connor will have to undergo subsequent transplants every 10-15 years and take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life.
Because of medication the child must take, Miller said, he is 10 times more likely than other people to develop cancer.
Dr. Hyman Robinowitz testified Thursday as an expert for the doctors.
He told the jury that it was inevitable before birth that Connor would need a transplant.
However, on cross examination, Robinowitz said the Steins’ treatment of Connor was below the standard of care.
