Georgia (The Gaslamp Post) – It wasn’t the three-way he was having that killed the young police officer, it was the fact that a doctor failed to alert him to a heart condition. At least, that’s what the jury in the case believes. A jury in Lawrence, Ga. awarded the widow of an officer who died of an apparent heart attack after sex, $3 Million, in a negligence and medical malpractice suit against the officer’s doctor.
The deceased Atlanta police officer, William Martinez, 31, along with a friend, had sex with a woman at a motel near the Atlanta Airport on March 12, 2009. The woman was not Martinez’s wife. He reportedly fell off the bed and was unresponsive. Martinez was transported by EMS to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Attorneys for Mrs. Martinez claim that William’s doctor, Dr. Sreenivasulu Gangasani failed to properly diagnose and treat him for shortness of breath, chest pains, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Martinez’s official cause of death was “atherosclerotic coronary artery disease,” which could have been brought on by strenuous physical activity that Dr. Gangasani allegedly failed to warn him to avoid.
Deceased Officer William Martinez, 31
“The type of sex that he was engaged in is the type that’s totally unacceptable to our community,” said Martinez family attorney Dr. Rod Edmond. “But the fact of the matter is this man could have died running on the treadmill, running after a criminal.”
In a statement to WXIA-TV, attorney Page Powell who represents Dr. Gangasani said the following:
“Dr. Gangasani did everything he could to prevent Mr. Martinez’s death. Mr. Martinez had a well-documented history of not following his doctors’ instructions. Here, after examining Mr. Martinez, Dr. Gangasani recommended follow-up cardiac testing, and he offered Mr. Martinez an appointment for the next day to have the testing performed. Mr. Martinez refused, and instead he scheduled the testing to take place one week later-the day after the sexual encounter that he had planned. Dr. Gangasani also specifically told Mr. Martinez not to engage in any strenuous activity, but unfortunately Mr. Martinez ignored this warning. Dr. Gangasani also gave Mr. Martinez appropriate medications, including aspirin, nitroglycerin, and cholesterol-lowering medications, and told Mr. Martinez to go to the emergency room immediately if he experienced any further chest pain. Thus, while Mr. Martinez’s death was a tragedy, it could have been prevented if he had simply followed Dr. Gangasani’s recommendations and instructions.”
Still, a jury found Dr. Gangasani negligent in the death of Officer William Martinez. They did however decide that Martinez was at least 40% responsible for his own death, which brought the award down to $3 Million, from $5 Million.
Martinez leaves behind a wife and two young sons, 7 and 9.
(h/t: WXIA-TV)
Marty
June 19, 2012
Am I the only one that finds this absolutely absurd! The wifes attorney even admits“The type of sex that he was engaged in is the type that’s totally unacceptable to our community,” said Martinez family attorney Dr. Rod Edmond. “But the fact of the matter is this man could have died running on the treadmill, running after a criminal.” The mans doctor told him how to stay alive. He refused to follow the doctors orders. How does this jury come to this verdict? Unless there is some facts that are not presented here, which may be, I can’t believe that they’re that assinine.
the gaslamp post
June 19, 2012
Nope, you’re not alone Marty. When I read this story I was floored. The way I look at it is like this; they played on the sympathies of a jury. Trusting wife betrayed by her police officer husband, who hurt her in an awful way. She has two small children to support and now she’s lost not only her children’s father, but her husband. This is what happens when people think emotionally and not logically.
Going from experience, this case will go before another judge in an appeal and it will either be overturned or greatly reduced.
I’m in full agreement with you though, the doctor (according to his attorney) demonstrated that he warned Martinez that there was a concern. Ignore any health advice of your physician at your own peril, I suppose…
Just out of curiosity, do you think that this life could have been spared or outcome changed in this case, had we had social healthcare?
The only reason I asked is because my girlfriend just finished a research paper for a class she’s taking and we’ve been debating the pro’s and con’s for the last hour. Not that it has any bearing on this story one way or the other, but shouldn’t healthcare begin with us caring about our health?
Marty
June 19, 2012
Social healthcare would have made absolutelty NO difference in this case and if your girlfriend would have read the full article instead of what she wanted to read about the “healthcare” issue she would have been able to answer her own question.
Points in fact. The officers doctor had already warned him that he had a heart condition that needed immediate treatment. The officer re-scheduled his appointment for a week later which happened to be a day after his tryst with his mistress and friend.
2nd. The dr. gave him medications to treat his heart condition to take care of himself until that time i.e. nitroglycerin, aspirin, to thin the blood out which makes the heart work easier, and cholesterol lowering medicine.
3rd instructions that if he had ANY ANY chest pains he should present to and emergeny room immediatly.
4th. He specifically told his patient NOT to engage in ANY strenuous physical activity! Menage a trois I do believe would include this. The doctor wanted to do a cardiac test the next day after his original diagnosis, the officer declined. The doctor also has documented a long history of the patient not complying with the doctors excercise and medication orders.
I would love to be able to sit on this appeals jury. This witch wouldn’t get a penny!!! Hence to answer your girlfriend. Back to the drawing board. My last nine years I worked in the USAF as a pharmacy tech and I’m trying to get into pharmacy school now. I have some background as to how this would all work.
the gaslamp post
June 20, 2012
Thanks Marty, I’d knew you’d come through! That my pretty much my sentiments exactly.
It’s crazy that you said you’re going to school to be a pharmacy tech; my girlfriend was a pharmacy tech a few years back in her dad’s drug store. Her dad was a pharmacist in the Army and came out to open his own drug store. He ended up selling out when Walgreens came to town. And now I find out you’re a military pharmacist tech…
HOW WILD IS THAT!?!?!?!?
Wise career choice, pharmacy techs make a pretty decent buck.