Lauderdale County Jury Awards $7 Million in Medical Negligence Case Against Radiologist
TL;DR
This $7 million medical malpractice verdict demonstrates how legal action can secure substantial compensation when healthcare providers fail to meet basic standards of care.
A radiologist missed a visible blood clot on twenty CT scan slices, leading to a preventable brain bleed and permanent injuries for the patient.
The jury's verdict upheld patient safety standards and restored dignity to a victim of medical negligence, emphasizing accountability in healthcare.
A simple follow-up test could have prevented lifelong injuries after a radiologist overlooked clear evidence of a blood clot on a CT scan.
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A Lauderdale County jury returned a $7 million verdict in favor of local dentist Sunitha Madasu against Donald J. Bowling, M.D. and Lauderdale Radiology Group, L.L.P. following a 10-day medical negligence trial. The September 24, 2025 verdict concluded litigation stemming from a 2022 incident where Dr. Bowling, working as an agent for Lauderdale Radiology, failed to identify critical evidence of a blood clot during his review of Madasu's head CT scan.
The case involved Madasu, a 46-year-old dentist who had practiced in Lauderdale County for over two decades, presenting to the Emergency Department at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital with severe headache, nausea and vomiting. After examination, the emergency room physician ordered a CT scan of her head. Dr. Bowling reviewed the imaging and reported the study as normal, despite evidence showing a bright spot indicative of an acute blood clot visible across twenty consecutive slices of the imaging. The jury found this finding should have been recognized by a reasonably careful diagnostic radiologist.
Relying on Dr. Bowling's normal report, the emergency room physician discharged Madasu from the hospital. Three days later, she developed a massive brain bleed resulting in permanent, debilitating injuries. At trial, evidence established that if Dr. Bowling had identified and reported the suspicious finding, a simple follow-up test would have confirmed the diagnosis, allowing for medication treatment that would have resulted in full recovery without complications.
During the trial, the defendants and their expert witnesses conceded that the bright spot seen on Madasu's CT scan probably represented a blood clot and that proper follow-up testing would have confirmed the diagnosis. Despite these admissions, the defendants maintained they had committed no wrongdoing. The jury ultimately found that the standard of care required a radiologist to identify the abnormality, communicate concern for an acute blood clot, and recommend additional evaluation.
Attorneys Ty Brown and J.D. Marsh of MARSH | RICKARD | BRYAN tried the case with local attorney Kerrian Jaudon providing additional counsel. Brown stated the verdict enforced basic standards of safe medical care and held the defendants accountable for the independence, mobility and professional career they took from Madasu. Marsh expressed gratitude to the jury members for listening to evidence, following the law and speaking the truth through their verdict.
The $7 million award represents one of the larger medical malpractice verdicts in recent Lauderdale County history and underscores the critical importance of accurate radiological interpretation in emergency medical settings. The case highlights how diagnostic errors in radiology can lead to catastrophic patient outcomes when treatable conditions go unrecognized. For healthcare providers, the verdict serves as a reminder of the professional responsibility inherent in diagnostic interpretation and the serious consequences that can follow when established standards of care are not met.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
