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Not Guilty

Filed under: R.I.P.

wenn27350.jpg

After John Ritter's sudden death a few years ago, his family filed suit for negligence against his radiologist and cardiologist.

Ritter died in 2003 due to a torn aorta. His widow and children blamed the docs for not properly screening and warning Ritter.

On Friday, a California jury (with a verdict of 9-3) has cleared both doctors against all charges in this civil case.

To add even more salt to an open wound, the jury also found that after getting a full body scan in 2001, Ritter was advised by his radiologist to get follow up treatment by a physician. Unfortunately, Ritter never made the followup visit he was told to do.

Note to everyone, please take your doctor's advise seriously. If they tell you get seek treatment, do it. Be safe, y'all!

[Image via WENN.]

140 comments to “Not Guilty”

More comments: [1] 2 »

  1. vero from town says – reply to this


    1

    WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! PRIMERO!

  2. essie says – reply to this


    2

    2nd or 3rd or 4th…anyways how messed up n yea perez i love ya but you need to spellcheck…it"s advice!!!!

  3. CCCCCCCCC says – reply to this


    3

    When you fuck and cum it feels so good to bake a cake and have you pet my snake as I hiss in your ass you lick my bush and finger my hole as I fuck you like the mole that you are inside I bleed as poop runs down my leg I smoke a fag until all the cum is dripping from your bum we start to hum in fun as I begin to sin it is in and out burger sounds good for me to eat as I beat my meat would you like a taste sit tight and powerpoint dikes cuz it's on on on.

  4. heyyall says – reply to this


    4

    That's the robot boy friend from Buffy! Cool!

  5. DUMBASS says – reply to this


    5

    WASNT CRIMINAL……… NOT GUILTY WRONG HEADLINE DOPE!!!

  6. joe says – reply to this


    6

    kind of an extraordinary lawsuit to begin with. Sad for the loss of John Ritter and especially for his family, but glad to hear that the doctors were found not guilty.

  7. ren says – reply to this


    7

    who cares!

  8. Kim says – reply to this


    8

    I always find grammatical errors in your posts Perez! "ADVICE" is the noun, "ADVISE" is the verb. Take note.

  9. Jstarz says – reply to this


    9

    Damn not first, sorry you died dude

  10. Good! says – reply to this


    10

    It's not like those millions of dollars was going to bring the poor guy back to life anyway. I'm super glad that SOMEONE is being reasonable in our litigious-crazy society!

  11. pam says – reply to this


    11

    first!!

  12. laura says – reply to this


    12

    5!!!

  13. PJs Mommy says – reply to this


    13

    PJ is the cutest kid in the world

  14. GOOD says – reply to this


    14

    thank god this jury wasn't packed with retards…you people want your healthcare costs brought down? STOP SUING DOCTORS FOR EVERY FUCKING THING. when will people realize that medicine is an imperfect science and that doctors are not out to harm people?

  15. Nim says – reply to this


    15

    :)

  16. tris says – reply to this


    16

    RIP

  17. Moi says – reply to this


    17

    Perez, shut up. You know nothing of what it is like to loose a family member. They have every right to be angry at the doctors.

  18. ILONA says – reply to this


    18

    i miss him and 8 simple rules

  19. Mina says – reply to this


    19

    Ooooh.. I Miss him so much! I Love U John!!!

  20. Jon says – reply to this


    20

    Re: ren – what a cunt !!!

  21. jen says – reply to this


    21

    20th!

  22. millie says – reply to this


    22

    FIRST!

  23. NYCheesecake says – reply to this


    23

    Great advice! He was too young to die. I loved John in Three's Company!

  24. Suzi says – reply to this


    24

    RIP John Ritter…

  25. Woohoo says – reply to this


    25

    I feel bad for John Ritter's family. I hope they can find some closure after this. R.I.P.

  26. Ima says – reply to this


    26

    OMG i love him

  27. Spam says – reply to this


    27

    Guilt is a criminal standard. Should read, Not Liable.

  28. molly says – reply to this


    28

    Yes, sorry for the family, but people need to take responsibility of their own health. And doctors and medical staff are human, and can make (in hindsight) the wrong choices.

  29. rachel says – reply to this


    29

    Aww, I loved him.

  30. Ima says – reply to this


    30

    i loved three's company too

  31. Leslie says – reply to this


    31

    I'm glad this was the verdict. It was very sad when he died but I don't believe doctors were responsible.

  32. YouIdiot says – reply to this


    32

    It's spelt ADVICE you idiot, you advise someone, you offer advice. Are you ever ashamed that you make so many idiot errors on your site?

  33. mike p says – reply to this


    33

    you failed to mention that they received a 14million settlement from the other doctors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  34. Tamra says – reply to this


    34

    Perez rocks bitches! :)

  35. Dr ER says – reply to this


    35

    anyone who has a dissecting aorta is lucky to make it to a hospital, but to be diagnosed before it totally ruptures is rare. Being angry at the doctors is common when someone dies- especially while 'tests and xrays" are being ordered- but the truth is, medicine will never, ever be perfect. Even if we ever have instant hand held scanning machines. John Ritter was likely to die at any moment and should have followed up. Blaming everyone else now is a moot point.

  36. fraulein_steve says – reply to this


    36

    no wonder why I pay so much to doctors. with all this frivilous lawsuit BS going around.

    Clue to the Clueless, people: You're all going to DIE, and NONE of you are guaranteed to live to a certain age! Doctor's don't have a magic wand to either diagnose or treat every single thing that's wrong with you!!!! duh!

  37. spayneuterlady says – reply to this


    37

    Why is it that when people sue doctors, hospitals, etc. they say they are only doing it so that it won't happen to others in the furure? And then proceed to ask for millions of dollars in damages, which would only make it harder to improve care?

    I'm glad justice won out in this case.

  38. Wonder Years says – reply to this


    38

    The truth will set you free doc,…..Lets drink till death.

  39. eloise says – reply to this


    39

    So glad to see a jury that actually made a decision based on facts, not sympathy. The man died of a torn aorta, it was NOT THE PHYSICIANs FAULT. Doctors cannot fix everything although they really do try. Some doctors are negligent, but a bad outcome is definitely not always malpractice!!! The family is sad, has suffered a loss, but to blame the doctors who did everything they could do save him is unfair. Even though these physicians were found not liable, does anyone have any idea the hell they have gone through these past months defending themselves??? Is that fair?? This is why physicians don't want to treat people anymore. The nightmare of a malpractice suit, not to mention the cost of defending yourself are unbelievable.

  40. Marcoo says – reply to this


    40

    Yeah Right!

    http://areyouglam.com/

  41. fdsafas says – reply to this


    41

    Check out this site!
    http://lunaranubis.proboards86.com/

  42. bella says – reply to this


    42

    perez…you spelled "advice" wrong. its advice not advise. you should spell check or something before posting

  43. erose says – reply to this


    43

    You should really get your terminology straight. The terms "guilty" and "not guilty" are not used in civil cases. Also, there are no "charges." This is not a criminal prosecution.

  44. long dong silver says – reply to this


    44

    HE PROBABLY JUST FORGOT. STOP BEING A FUCKING DOUCHE YOU TROLL

  45. Allie says – reply to this


    45

    I'm probably one of John's biggest fans and I even admit that this lawsuit was unfair and only based on emotions and not facts. I can't imagine the pain that the family is going through right now, but the decision had to be made based on reason and not pity and sympathy. I can only pray for comfort for his family… may John continue to RIP.

  46. fatzolette says – reply to this


    46

    hi fatzo,
    I'm sure your doctors also gave you the advice to lose weight and go to the gym…

  47. bpj says – reply to this


    47

    Perez, the term is NOT LIABLE, guilty implies criminal conduct, i.e. the Ritter family is guilty of gold digging.

  48. sam says – reply to this


    48

    The family already received a 12 million dollar settlement so to sue these docs was pure greed.

  49. SylentDreamer says – reply to this


    49

    This is B.S. The trial wasn't about if John followed up with his doctors orders. It was about a person going into a hospital with one condition and getting treatment for the wrong damn condition, and in the case the person passed away. I believe if the doctors diagnosed him correctly and not a damn heart attack he would have lived and that was the trial about. John could have followed up and then what if the same thing happened? He would have went to work felt ill and never came back….who would have been negligent then? This is Bull Shit

  50. PITA says – reply to this


    50

    Doctors cannot be held responsible for the sad results from a noncompliant patient. Your advice was good Perez. Listen to your doctor and follow up with the tests and program he prescribes for you. Patients who try to outguess their doctor or do not comply with the doctors recommendations get the P.I.T.A. award. That doesn’t mean they love animals it stands for Pain In The Arse.

  51. PK says – reply to this


    51

    It is an abomination that Ritter's widow filed this lawsuit to begin with! The doctors were completely not at fault. The family got $14M from the hospital when 80% of people with an aortic separation die. It is a difficult condition to detect; just because the doctor did not detect it does not mean malpractice.

  52. jack says – reply to this


    52

    Perez, I like ur website, but who are you to give people advices about what they shoud do?? Medicine is not always safe, and it's sometimes better to not take all the pills he prescribes you!!
    Don't make general rules when you don't know what you're talking about!!

  53. Juan says – reply to this


    53

    Good result. Seemed like pure greed on the part of the family, trying to win a big judgment based on Ritter's fame rather than on true malpractice. Hope Ms. Ritter has to pay the other side's legal fees.

  54. Egan Foote says – reply to this


    54

    It's not a matter of guilty or not guilty - this ain't a criminal matter.

    Egan, ,out!

    http://eganfoote.wordpress.com

  55. Steph says – reply to this


    55

    yeah, an aortic dissection is not something a doctor's going to happen to diagnose. A lot of the time it's mistaken for food poisoning.

    [Scrubs] tackled this subject. Does anyone remember? Everything they said about AD's in that episode is true…

  56. someone who knows what they are talking about says – reply to this


    56

    it's not guilty v. guilty in a civil case…it's liable v. not liable

  57. Mollz says – reply to this


    57

    Hi Honey, I love you and I am addicted to you. Just wanted to give you a little lawyer lingo lesson…I am one so I am qualified : ) It's "Not Liable" in a civil case and there are no charges, so it would be that the docs where found not liable for the alleged negligence in the civil suit brought by the decedant's family. My unsolicited two cents of clarification.

    mmmwwwahhh…you handsome man you.

  58. mimi in mo says – reply to this


    58

    I really liked John. I remember watching Three's Company when I was a kid & watched 8 Simply Rules before he died. He was a great actor & is missed. HOWEVER I think that the jury made the right decision. I don't think that just because someone dies (no matter how tragic) that we should auotmatically sue & assume that the doc did something wrong. Often times people just die. That's just how it is. BTW I do understand that Dr's make mistakes, I'm just saying that's not always the case. I hope his family will continue to heal from the pain of losing him.

  59. Robert says – reply to this


    59

    The heading is completely misleading and inaccurate. Guilt is only a standard in a CRIMINAL case, not a CIVIL case. A more accurate heading would have been "Not Liable," but a guess it wouldn't attract as much attention. But it does make Perez look as ignorant as he is.

  60. manda Lu says – reply to this


    60

    i miss john ritter, he was a one of a kind.

    i totally agree with the follow up appointment. i went to the hospital christmas eve, they found nothing wrong with me, they said to "follow up" i felt like crap so i did and they found out i had cancer, that was spreading like wildfire. so you MUST get checked yearly, look at swazye, he more than likely did NOT have yearlies.

    just do it!

  61. Jo D says – reply to this


    61

    What's with this health crap you keep spewing?! B-O-R-I-N-G.

  62. joe simpson says – reply to this


    62

    Re: CCCCCCCCC – cum again?

  63. sassy says – reply to this


    63

    How sad that John Ritter has passed away and five years later they won't let the man rest in peace already! What his widow isn't happy with the millions he left her and their daughter? A wrongful death suit against the doctors because he wasn't "Warned?" HOW IGNORANT CAN YOU BE?

  64. mad fag says – reply to this


    64

    SO MUCH PORN ADS ON THIS SITE, IS THIS BLOG SLOWLY TURNING IN TO A PORN SITE… HOW LONG TILL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START PAYING…

  65. Obama bin Laden says – reply to this


    65

    I love John Ritter just like pretty much everybody else, but that lawsuit was f*cked up. So now someone dies and that's like buying a winning lottery ticket? Get that money America!! Sue your doctor!! Sue McDonald's!! Sue the Girl Scouts and the airlines!! Get what's yours!! RIP John.

  66. Zina {The original princess} says – reply to this


    66

    GOD BLESS

  67. jennifer says – reply to this


    67

    There is NO POSSIBLE WAY any doctor could have diagnosed a torn aorta in time for anyone to be saved; it just isn't possible.

    The family is filled with grief… that is understandable, but to sue doctors because they are mad at god is completely unreasonable and should be against the law.

    It is too bad some insurance companies (for the hospital, I guess) already paid out 14 million dollars to the family.

    The doctors should sue the family now for their legal bills.

  68. norman says – reply to this


    68

    Everyone need to leave that man rest in peace !

  69. Jenny says – reply to this


    69

    Patients need to take responsibility for themselves. The radiologist was not responsible. His ONLY responsibility is to take the body scan, tell him what's wrong, what he should probably do and refer him to a cardiologist. John Ritter never did. Ritter was admitted into the ER and diagnosed with a heart attack. The attending or on call cardiologist is then paged for a consult. The ER physicians then update him on the status of the patient. Tests are ordered (a chest x-ray) and it was never done. That is the hospital's fault (that's why they probably had to pay out). But then he probably started crashing so there was no time for a test. Plus, if the patient isn't stabilized, then it would not be safe to transport them to radiology. It is also not guaranteed that they had time to put together a surgical team. Remember that this is a team: you have to call an anesthesiologist, cardiothoracic surgeon, surgical nurses, techs, etc. They need time to go over the patient's history, symptoms and prep the procedure.

    He had an untreated, rare condition. His chances of surviving were slim. He was a ticking time bomb. It was bound to happen, but he never followed up. It may have possibly been prevented or at least prolonged his life. But his family had a history of heart disease. If he went to the a doctor at the same hospital which have electronic medical records, then they would have seen the radiologist's notes.

  70. fannybreath says – reply to this


    70

    WHO IS THIS SILLY SAUSAGE? AND YOU ONLY DIE FROM A TORN AORTA FROM TRAUMA FOR EXAMPLE AN R.T.C. sorry for souting cos i poked me big button!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oooooh errr missus

  71. deco says – reply to this


    71

    I loved him :(

  72. Umm... says – reply to this


    72

    Perez, it seems you don't know your verbs from your nouns…advise with an "s" (as you showed it) is a verb. You were thinking of advice with a c.

    I don't mean to be picky, but if a celeb made that mistake no doubt there would be an entry about it.

    Crazy spell check…:)

    xoxo

  73. ewww says – reply to this


    73

    Perez you are just too sweet for words.

  74. netta says – reply to this


    74

    I think everyone should reconsider the responsibility of their personal health care. It is YOUR responsibility to pursue all recommended treatment. Call me bias because I plan to pursue a career in medicine, but I refuse to believe that anyone in this country really knows where the line is between personal and hired responsibility. $67 million is absurd, and as mentioned previously, people complain about excessive health care costs yet refuse to stop shelling out ridiculous law suits and learn to take responsibility for their own behavior.

  75. thank your trancriptionists. says – reply to this


    75

    Ahh the importance of medical transcriptionists. Thank you, thank you. Send your work overseas and you won't have the same outcome.

  76. simone says – reply to this


    76

    that sux that he died

  77. thankgod! says – reply to this


    77

    FINALLY! Get these sue-happy fuckers away from the courts and stop wasting our money. Anybody notice why your docs are consolidating and it's harder and harder to get a decent amount of time with them? Does the office feel like a cattle herd? That's because these docs can't afford their insurance premiums anymore. Negligence is one thing (i.e. Dennis Quaid) but suing perfectly innocent doctors will not bring your loved ones back.

  78. cha says – reply to this


    78

    WOW it's no wonder her died, his coloring is AWFUL! He's all florid! Holy shit! Didn't ANYONE notice? If they did no one made him see a doctor.

  79. say10 says – reply to this


    79

    i think the wife had already recvd 14 million from the hospital but i guess that wasnt enough and now she wanted to go after the physicians. what a bitch, its no wonder why healthcare costs are so so nutty.

  80. Jayne says – reply to this


    80

    I feel soo sorry for his family— to be without him. I still watch "Three's Company" and the "Problem Child" series and laugh each time. Rest In Peace, John.. You are loved and missed…

  81. Ed Lover says – reply to this


    81

    Gold Diggers! All they want is money… your money source ran out you ho… now you want some more… deal with it. Your meal ticket is gone!

  82. leeza says – reply to this


    82

    I couldn't agree with you more! I don't usually so I'm taking this opportunity to let you know you are very right here. :)

  83. laura says – reply to this


    83

    i looooved john ritter! :(

  84. tatiana says – reply to this


    84

    what stupid lawsuit
    it was ooooooobvious it was not a physician error..
    this people from hollywood is all about money.
    Doctors are not to harm people…..stop lawsuits again doctors………

  85. Mina says – reply to this


    85

    Look at that smile… man i loved that guy! Miss u terrible John!!!

  86. ha says – reply to this


    86

    y'all, texas really got to you huh

  87. the detective says – reply to this


    87

    hope all's well in Texas! :)

  88. the rest of us says – reply to this


    88

    are lucky to have health insurance.
    let alone be able to afford the doctor.

    or would be lucky enough to afford the follow up apointment.

  89. nikki says – reply to this


    89

    perez - due to healthcare issues in this country, not everybody can afford to follow up with their doctor. obviously john ritter would have been in a much better position to do so, but i think it's important to keep in mind that as much as millions of people would like to take their doctors seriously, the honestly cannot afford to do so.

  90. redsonja1313 says – reply to this


    90

    Why do people feel the need to sue doctors??? Especially if they have money??? my father had a Mayo clinc physical 10 days before he died, they pronounced him him excellent health. He dropped over dead from a congential heart defect that can only be detected with a special test. There was no heart disease in our family prior to this…. are the Dr at fault for not realizing that "a history of…" has to start somewhere. Dr are people too and I am pretty sure they don't like to see patients die either?? Sueing them is just ruing too families lives and no amount of moeny will bring the dead person back or make up for what was lost in a life time with out them. Guessing his life insurance people were pretty ticked off.

  91. robin says – reply to this


    91

    Amy Yasbeck should have never even sued. She did this for the money so she wouldn't have to get a job. That is being lazy and greedy. John Ritter died quickly and would have never made it out alive from the operating room. I am glad to know that at least these doctors chose not to settle like the rest of them did. I would have fought her all the way.

  92. Lucy says – reply to this


    92

    Good! That is the right judgment.

  93. kayla says – reply to this


    93

    oh perez! subject-verb agreement!!

  94. ami says – reply to this


    94

    now what is his wife going to do for money!!! LOSER!!!!

  95. Tara says – reply to this


    95

    An aortic dissection (tear in your aorta, one of the main arteries directly from your heart) is SO RANDOM. Its so sudden… you aorta tears and about 60 seconds later you are dead. The only way to live if you have one is to literally be on the surgery table with your chest already open when it happens. Even then, most people will die. There is NO way to screen for this. Its just really very tragic, unfortunate and unavoidable.

  96. CMT says – reply to this


    96

    Oh #76, shame on you saying >>>>Ahh the importance of medical transcriptionists. Thank you, thank you. Send your work overseas and you won't have the same outcome>>> I am a credentialed American medical transciptionist and NO ONE is more aware of the HIPAA (NOT HIPPA rules as so many of you mis-type!) than me and many of my American ilk are. We are the "little people" and have no control over the work that WE HOLD SACRED being moved offshore. Shame on you for even thinking that we do. Don't blame us, we're just trying to make an American living with what crumbs they give us.

  97. opi says – reply to this


    97

    I wholeheartedly agree with the jury. It was purely a money grab. He had responsibility for this own health, and failed to follow up. You see what happened, death. Same with Patrick Swayze, smoking even during chemo.

  98. Elaine says – reply to this


    98

    Aortic dissections are 90% fatal, even when diagnosed before they blow. It is VERY unlikely that John Ritter would have survived , even if he made it to the OR. It is sad, but there was not really anything anyone could have done to change the outcome.

  99. diamond8girl says – reply to this


    99

    Health is all anyone has. Take care of yourself because there is nothing more precious.

  100. Iron says – reply to this


    100

    Re: ren – YOU cared enough to give a lame comment.

More comments: [1] 2 »