A Fairfax Circuit Court jury returned a $3,089,602.88 compensatory verdict in favor of the family of a 64-year-old woman who died following a CT-guided lung biopsy performed at a Virginia hospital. The case reached trial on claims of medical malpractice and wrongful death, with the plaintiff's theory centering on the interventional radiologist's post-biopsy management of a complication [1]. No punitive damages were sought or awarded.
The central factual dispute concerned the placement of a chest tube during follow-up care after the biopsy. According to the plaintiff's evidence, the radiologist inserted the chest tube through the posterior biopsy tract rather than through a standard anatomical approach, placing it outside the accepted standard of care and lacerating an intercostal artery [1]. The injury went unrecognized for approximately 28 hours, during which the patient sustained massive internal hemorrhaging [1]. She died as a result of the blood loss.
The jury assigned liability to both the interventional radiologist and the hospital and awarded the full compensatory figure sought [1]. Because no punitive component was presented, the $3,089,602.88 award represents the entirety of the verdict. Post-trial motions and any remittitur proceedings, if pursued, would be heard in Fairfax Circuit Court.
No defense counsel information was disclosed in the available record, and the presiding judge was not identified in the source material. Plaintiff's counsel Michael M. Wilson of the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson M.D., J.D. & Associates represented the decedent's family [1].