Noted Composer’s Death Possibly Resulted From Medical Misdiagnosis

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Marvin Hamlisch’s estate alleges medical negligence in the form of misdiagnosis.

According to court documents, Hamlisch’s primary doctor may have misdiagnosed him from the beginning. The statement of claim indicates that the physician, Dr. David Cohen, permitted his patient to travel even though he had low blood pressure, chills, weakness, nausea, exhaustion and difficulty breathing. Cohen allegedly attributed the symptoms to back pain, even though Hamlisch had a kidney transplant that appeared to be doing its job.

Although there were conflicting reports about the cause of death, it was ultimately determined he died of lung failure. Court documents suggest that Hamlisch’s sudden death was due to the medical negligence of his doctor. Allegedly, Cohen repeatedly dismissed his symptoms without conducting a physical examination. Further, the argument states that the diagnosis was done while the physician was on vacation and out of the New York Presbyterian Hospital.

The doctor returned to work on July 30, 2014 and discharged his patient, opining that a five-and-a-half hour flight to Los Angeles would be “perfectly safe.” Hamlisch left for Los Angeles on August 1 to score the movie Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace. Although he did arrive in Los Angeles, he collapsed, went into an unrelenting coma and died five days later on August 6.

His family may benefit from applying for a lawsuit loan to tide them over financially until the case is resolved. Litigation funding is available for plaintiffs who are struggling to keep up with usual bills and added financial burdens, such a medical bills and funeral and burial expenses.

Pre-settlement funding is often available fairly rapidly upon application by a plaintiff. All applications are treated with respect and dignity. Litigation funding intake specialists realize the applicant has gone through a lot before coming to them for help. In most cases, funding is approved in less than 48 hours and is sent directly to the plaintiff’s bank account, where he or she may start paying bills and setting funds aside for the long wait to trial or settlement. The plaintiff must have an attorney of record to be eligible for a lawsuit loan.

While pre-settlement funding may not suit every applicant, it is an option many may wish to explore. Serious injuries or death often bring very high bills, and not everyone has the means to source the kind of funding needed to deal with those expenses without help.

Daren Monroe writes for Litigation Funding Corp. To learn more about lawsuit funding and litigation funding, visit http://www.litigationfundingcorp.com/.

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