Mar 14, 2008 12:28 pm US/Pacific
2 Doctors Cleared Of Negligence In Ritter's Death
GLENDALE (AP) ―
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John Ritter died of a torn aorta in 2003.
CBS
A jury in Glendale has cleared a cardiologist and a radiologist of negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of John Ritter, who died of a torn aorta in 2003.
The verdict was 9-3 Friday in the lawsuit brought by Ritter's widow and children resulted in no damage judgments against the doctors. Verdicts do not have to be unanimous in civil cases.
The jurors also found that Ritter was advised by radiologist Matthew Lotysch to follow up with treatment by a physician and that the actor did not do so. Lotysch did a body scan on Ritter two years earlier.
The radiologist testified he advised Ritter he had calcification in three coronary arteries and should consult other doctors.
In a related finding, the jury decided that Ritter's failure to pursue that medical consultation was not a cause of his death.
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