Firm represents northern Maine family in misdiagnosis lawsuit

The Berman & Simmons law firm has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Penobscot Community Health Care clinic in Brewer, Maine, claiming the clinic’s negligence contributed to the death of a middle school teacher in 2015.

Attorney Jodi Nofsinger filed the lawsuit this month in U.S. District Court in Bangor. Nofsinger represents Christopher Michaud, 43, of Holden.

Michaud’s wife, Andrea Michaud, went to the clinic on April 11, 2015, with chest pain and other symptoms. According to the complaint, nurse practitioner George Case diagnosed Michaud with shingles. Michaud was actually suffering from pneumonia, and she died three days later, the complaint says. Christopher Michaud is suing the clinic for failing to properly diagnose his wife, which may have prevented her death.

The filing of the lawsuit was covered this week by the Bangor Daily News.

The Michauds have two sons. Andrea taught French at the Holbrook School in Holden. She was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and graduated from the University of Guelph in Ontario with a degree in French and the University of Presque Isle with a degree in education.

Here is a statement about the case from attorney Nofsinger:

“Andrea’s death has had a devastating impact on her husband, their children, and their relatives and friends. She loved spending time with her family and was very involved with her kids’ sports and other activities. She was a teacher who cared deeply for her students.

If some basic, common-sense steps had been taken by Andrea’s healthcare providers, we believe her death would have been prevented.

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people go to walk-in clinics and emergency departments. Safety protocols have been developed to make sure that serious causes, such as infections or artery disease, are not overlooked.

When a patient presents with severe chest pain, healthcare providers need to rule out those life threatening conditions before sending them home.”