Dignity Restored
A Case Study of Emergency Room Negligence, A Preventable Bowel Perforation, and Justice for an Erie Widow
In the realm of medical malpractice, few cases illustrate the fragility of health and the catastrophic impact of a single decision like the case of “Eleanor.” An 80-year-old widow residing in Erie, Pennsylvania, Eleanor was the picture of vitality and independence—until a trip to the emergency room for severe constipation turned into a life-threatening nightmare. Due to a failure to properly interpret imaging studies and the negligent prescription of a dangerous laxative, Eleanor suffered a perforated colon, septic shock, and months of agony and embarrassment.
This case study details how the medical malpractice attorneys at Lupetin & Unatin, LLC fought to hold the hospital and attending physicians accountable. By exposing a clear breach in the standard of care, we secured a significant settlement that restored Eleanor’s financial security and provided the resources necessary for her future medical needs.
The Client: A Pillar of the Erie Community
To understand the gravity of this injury, one must first understand the woman it happened to. Eleanor was not your “typical” 80-year-old. A proud widow living independently in Erie Pennsylvania, she was a woman of high social standing and boundless energy.
She was the matriarch of her family, deeply involved in the lives of her two successful sons and her beloved grandchildren. Beyond her family, she was a fixture in her community, known for her philanthropic work and active social calendar. Independence was her hallmark; she was the one who cared for others, not the other way around. She took pride in her appearance and her dignity.
That independence was shattered on a summer evening in July 2024.
The Medical Emergency: Stercoral Colitis
Eleanor presented to a major hospital in Erie complaining of abdominal pain and nausea. She reported that she hadn’t had a bowel movement in a week. To a layperson, this sounds like simple constipation. However, to a trained medical professional, given her age and symptoms, it should have raised immediate red flags for a much more serious condition.
A CT scan was performed, and the radiologist’s report was alarming. It showed a “fecal-loaded colon” with “wall thickening” and “stranding.” These are the classic radiological signs of Stercoral Colitis.
What is Stercoral Colitis?
Stercoral colitis is a rare but dangerous inflammatory condition caused by fecal impaction. The impacted stool exerts massive pressure on the walls of the colon. This pressure cuts off blood flow to the tissue, causing inflammation and weakening the intestinal wall. In elderly patients, the colon wall is already thinner and more susceptible to injury.
When a patient has stercoral colitis, the colon is essentially a ticking time bomb. The standard of care requires hospital admission, intravenous fluids, careful manual disimpaction, and consultation with a surgeon or gastroenterologist.
The Fatal Error: Magnesium Citrate
Despite the CT scan clearly showing an inflamed, impacted, and vulnerable colon, the Emergency Department residents and attending physician failed to recognize the severity of the condition. Instead of admitting Eleanor, they made a decision that would prove disastrous.
They discharged her home with instructions to drink a bottle of Magnesium Citrate.
Magnesium Citrate is a hyperosmotic saline laxative. It works by pulling massive amounts of water from the body into the intestines to stimulate a bowel movement. It creates intense pressure within the bowel.
Prescribing Magnesium Citrate to a patient with stercoral colitis is akin to lighting a stick of dynamite inside a sealed tunnel. The pressure builds rapidly with nowhere to go.
The Harm Caused: Perforation, Sepsis, and Humiliation
Trusting her doctors, Eleanor went home and drank the Magnesium Citrate. The reaction was almost immediate and horrific.
The medication did exactly what it was designed to do—it flooded her intestines with fluid. But because she was impacted and her colon walls were weakened by the colitis, the pressure blew a hole through her descending colon.
Eleanor experienced over 25 episodes of uncontrollable diarrhea followed by excruciating pain and weakness. She was rushed back to the hospital by ambulance less than 24 hours after being discharged.
The Medical Fallout Upon her return, a new CT scan confirmed the worst: Pneumoperitoneum (free air in the abdomen) indicating a perforated bowel. Fecal matter was leaking into her abdominal cavity. She was in septic shock, her kidneys were failing, and she was fighting for her life.
She underwent emergency surgery—an exploratory laparotomy. Surgeons had to remove a section of her colon and perform a sigmoid resection. Because the infection was so severe, they could not reconnect her bowel immediately. Instead, Eleanor woke up in the ICU, intubated and sedated, with a colostomy bag.
The Human Toll
The physical pain was immense, but for a woman of Eleanor’s pride and social standing, the emotional toll was perhaps even greater.
- Loss of Dignity: For months, Eleanor had to live with a colostomy bag attached to her abdomen. She was mortified. She withdrew from her social circle, too embarrassed to leave her home for fear of leaks or odors.
- Loss of Independence: The woman who once took care of everyone else now required 24/7 care. She had to rely heavily on her sons and friends for the most basic biological functions. This reversal of roles was psychologically devastating for her.
- Complications: Her recovery was a nightmare. She developed a painful hernia at the stoma site (where the intestine exits the body). The stoma itself became infected. She eventually required a second major surgery to reverse the colostomy and repair the hernia.
- Permanent Scarring: Eleanor was left with a massive, disfiguring scar running the length of her abdomen. This scar serves as a permanent daily reminder of the negligence that nearly killed her. It also places her at a lifelong increased risk for incisional hernias.
The Need for Legal Intervention
While Eleanor focused on survival, her family realized that something had gone terribly wrong. How could a hospital send an 80-year-old woman home with a simple laxative, only for her to nearly die of a burst colon the next day?
They contacted Lupetin & Unatin, LLC.
The Investigation Our team of seasoned medical malpractice lawyers immediately requested the medical records from the Erie hospital. We engaged a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine expert to review the case. The expert’s report was damning.
The expert confirmed that:
- The Diagnosis Was Clear: The initial CT scan showed stercoral colitis. This is a medical emergency that requires admission, not discharge.
- The Treatment Was Contraindicated: Giving Magnesium Citrate to an elderly patient with an inflamed, impacted colon is a violation of basic medical standards. It directly caused the perforation.
- Systemic Failure: We uncovered a lack of supervision in the Emergency Room. A resident physician had managed much of Eleanor’s care, and the attending physician’s notes—written days after the perforation occurred—attempted to justify the discharge with a confusing “addendum” that did not match the reality of the care provided.
We filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, alleging professional negligence against the hospital and the physicians involved. We argued that the hospital failed to enforce policies regarding resident supervision and failed to ensure safe handoffs between doctors.
The Outcome: Accountability and Security
The hospital and their insurance carriers recognized the strength of our case. The timeline was undeniable: Eleanor was sent home with a dangerous medication, and she suffered the exact injury that medication is known to cause in patients with her condition.
The Settlement Rather than drag Eleanor through a painful public trial, we successfully negotiated a large, confidential settlement.
This outcome achieved several critical goals:
- Accountability: The settlement served as an acknowledgment that the care provided to Eleanor was unacceptable.
- Financial Security: Eleanor is now financially secure for the rest of her life. The funds will cover any future medical needs she may have, including care for potential future hernias or complications from her abdominal scarring.
- Restoration of Independence: With these resources, Eleanor can afford private assistance if she needs it in the future, ensuring she never has to feel like a burden to her children again.
Eleanor has since recovered from her reversal surgery. While she will always carry the physical and emotional scars of that summer, she has returned to her community with her head held high, knowing that she stood up for herself and won.
Why This Matters for Erie, PA Residents
This case highlights a critical issue in modern emergency medicine: the rush to discharge. In busy ERs, symptoms are often minimized, and dangerous conditions like stercoral colitis can be mistaken for simple constipation.
If you or a loved one in Erie, Pittsburgh, or anywhere in Pennsylvania has suffered a bowel perforation, sepsis, or serious injury following an ER visit, it may not just be “bad luck.” It may be medical malpractice.
Lupetin & Unatin, LLC specializes in unravelling complex medical timelines to find the truth. We understand that for clients like Eleanor, it’s not just about the money—it’s about dignity, accountability, and ensuring that what happened to them doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Disclaimer: The case study described above is based on a real matter handled by Lupetin & Unatin, LLC. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the client. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.