Jury Awards $49 Million To Darien Woman Who Claimed Doctor Missed Life-Threatening Cancer Diagnosis

DARIEN, CT — A Stamford Superior Court jury on Thursday awarded $49 million to a Darien woman who claimed her gynecologist failed to follow standard protocols for monitoring high-risk HPV, allowing cervical cancer to progress to a late-stage, life-threatening disease.

The trial took place over five weeks before Judge Yamini Menon. The jury deliberated for three hours before handing down a verdict and finding the defendants negligent.

Jennifer Anderson was a patient of Dr. Dzwinka Carroll of Westmed Medical Group from at least 2013 through 2019, according to Silver Golub & Teitell, the law firm that represented Anderson at trial.

Over the course of multiple visits, Anderson repeatedly tested positive for high-risk strains of HPV, including HPV-16, a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus that significantly elevates a patient's risk for developing cervical cancer, Silver Golub & Teitell said in an announcement.

"Despite these results, Dr. Carroll never performed a colposcopy, a standard follow-up procedure required under the applicable standard of care," Silver Golub & Teitell said.

In September 2019, Anderson went to Carroll with complaints of irregular menstrual cycles and bleeding, the law firm noted, and a mass was discovered on her cervix. Subsequent testing confirmed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

The cancer had spread to her chest, abdomen, and pelvis, according to Silver Golub & Teitell, who said Anderson now suffers from late-stage metastatic cervical cancer - a disease expected to cause her death.

"Jennifer Anderson did everything right. She went to her doctor every year, she had her tests done, and she trusted that her results would be acted upon. That trust was betrayed, repeatedly, over six years. This verdict holds Westmed accountable for what happened to her," Silver Golub & Teitell partner Peter Dreyer said in an announcement following the verdict.

The verdict form notes the jury awarded $39 million in damages to Anderson and $10 million to her husband.

"What makes this case so troubling is that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers we have. Jennifer Anderson's tragedy did not have to happen," Silver Golub & Teitell partner Sarah Russell said in an announcement. "We hope this verdict sends a message to medical practices that protocols for high-risk patients must be followed."

In a statement to Patch on Friday, Westmed Medical Group, a subsidiary of Summit Health, said: "While we disagree with the verdict, we empathize with the Andersons. However, we cannot comment on current litigation given the fact that we intend to file post-trial motions and an appeal."