Dr. LAURENCE H ZEITLIN, MD Medical Malpractice Cases, Lawsuits, and Complaints

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Phycicians Practice Address

Dr. LAURENCE H ZEITLIN, MD

33920 US Highway 19 N Ste 124

Palm Harbor, FL

34684

Pinellas

Court Case # 17-003184

Indemnity Paid: $300,000.00

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Department File Number :	M201783516
Claim Number :	160495
Date Submitted :	10/30/2017

Insurer Information

Insurer Name				Coverage Type
FD INSURANCE COMPANY				Primary
Insurer FEIN		Professional License Number
20-3704679
Insurer Contact Information
Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	Richard			Petersen
Street Address
4651 Salisbury Rd. #410
City				State	Zip
Jacksonville				FL	32256
Phone	Ext	Fax	E-Mail Address
(904) 309 - 8142		(904) 394 - 7134	rpetersen@norcal-group.com

Insured Information

Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	Laurence		H	Zeitlin
Insurer Type		Street Address of Practice
Licensed		33920 US Highway 19 N Ste 124
City		State	Zip Code	County
Palm Harbor		FL	34684	Pinellas
Policy Number		Per Claim Policy Limits		Aggregate Policy Limits
MG001570		$250,000		$750,000
Profession or Business			Other Profession or Business
Medical Doctor
License Number		Specialty Code & Classification		Certification Number
ME37456		Gastroenterology - Minor Surgery

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Injured Person Information

First Name	MI	Last Name		Date of Birth

Street Address			Gender	County where Injury Occurred
			M	Pinellas
City			State	Zip Code

Location where injury occured		Other location where injury occured
Patient's Home
Name of Institution		Code

Location of Institutional Injury		Other Location of Institutional Injury
Other		West Central Gastroenterology
Date of Occurrence		Date Reported to Insurer
12/15/2015		12/27/2016

Diagnostic Information

Final Diagnosis For Which Treatment Was Sought Including Patient's Actual Condition
It is alleged that the patient was treated by Dr. Zeitlin from 2013-15 for ulcerative colitis (UC) and in 04/15, was prescribed Delzicol until 12/15. During the 8 months taking Delzicol, claimants creatinine levels rose from 1.3 (12/14) to 3.57 on 12/15/15. Dr. Zeitlin prescribed Delzicol (mesalamine) that is a delayed-release capsule that works at the lining of the GI tract to decrease inflammation. A known side effect is kidney/renal impairment in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter metabolic water from the blood. In December 2014 lab results showed that the patient's creatinine level was just above normal. As such, it was appropriate to not change the Delzicol prescription at that time. In June 2015, Dr. Zeitlin instructed his office to call the patient to tell him his creatinine had worsened to 2.01 and to decrease the medication and repeat renal testing. Ultimately, the patient did not follow Dr. Zeitlin's recommendations. The patient returned to Dr. Zeitlin in December 2015, and by that time his creatinine had worsened and so had his GFR. The patient was admitted to Mease Countryside Hospital for further testing when he was diagnosed with CKD stage 4 and acute renal failure with secondary hypertension and anemia.
Operation, Diagnostic, Or Treatment Procedure Rendered Causing The Injury
It is alleged that the patient was treated by Dr. Zeitlin from 2013-15 for ulcerative colitis (UC) and in 04/15, was prescribed Delzicol until 12/15. During the 8 months taking Delzicol, claimants creatinine levels rose from 1.3 (12/14) to 3.57 on 12/15/15. Dr. Zeitlin prescribed Delzicol (mesalamine) that is a delayed-release capsule that works at the lining of the GI tract to decrease inflammation. A known side effect is kidney/renal impairment in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter metabolic water from the blood. In December 2014 lab results showed that the patient's creatinine level was just above normal. As such, it was appropriate to not change the Delzicol prescription at that time. In June 2015, Dr. Zeitlin instructed his office to call the patient to tell him his creatinine had worsened to 2.01 and to decrease the medication and repeat renal testing. Ultimately, the patient did not follow Dr. Zeitlin's recommendations. The patient returned to Dr. Zeitlin in December 2015, and by that time his creatinine had worsened and so had his GFR. The patient was admitted to Mease Countryside Hospital for further testing when he was diagnosed with CKD stage 4 and acute renal failure with secondary hypertension and anemia.
Diagnostic Code :
Misdiagnosis Made, If Any, Of Patient's Actual Condition
*NR
Principal Injury Giving Rise To The Claim
Ulcerative colitis
Severity Of Injury
Permanent: Minor - Loss of fingers, loss or damage to organs. Includes non-disabling injuries.

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Legal Information

Date of Suit			Circuit Court Case Number
7/6/2017			17-003184
County Suit Filed in			Date of Final Disposition
Pinellas			10/20/2017
Other Defendants Involved in this Claim

Stage of Legal System at which Settlement was Reached or Award Made
More than 90 days, after suit filed and prior to or during the course of mandatory settlement conference.
Final Method of Claim Disposition
Settled by parties
Court Decision			Other
Other			Settled between parties
Arbitration
Claim not subject to Arbitration.
Date of Payment
10/18/2017

Financial Information

Was there a settlement Resulting in payment to the Plaintiff?

Yes

Indemnity Paid by Insurer on behalf of Insured

$300,000

Loss Adjust Expense Paid to Defense Counsel

$15,228

All Other Loss Adjustment Expense Paid

Injured Person's Total Non-Economic Loss

Deductible

Injured Person's Total Economic Loss

	Incurred to Date	Anticipated
Medical Expense	$0	$0
Wage Loss	$0	$0
Other Expenses	$0	$0

Safety Management Steps Taken by Insured to Make Similar Occurrence Less Likely

Circumstances of the case have been discussed with risk management and the insured.

Updates

No updates found.

*NR: Prior to 04/28/1999 this field was not required in submitted claims.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dr. LAURENCE H ZEITLIN, MD have any medical malpractice cases, lawsuits, or complaints?

Dr. LAURENCE H ZEITLIN, MD has at least 1 medical malpractice case(s), lawsuit(s), or complaint(s).

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