Family of deceased Honesdale student to seek damages in malpractice lawsuit
HONESDALE — On Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., a press conference held via Zoom was convened by the law firm of Ross Feller Casey.
Matt Casey, a founding partner of the Philadelphia-based firm which specializes in personal injury cases, hosted the event.
Attorney Casey stated his firm has been retained by the family of Samson Fluck, who died at the age of 16 on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
Samson was a popular student-athlete at Honesdale High School. He was in the middle of his sophomore football season when he passed.
Casey contends that Fluck’s death was “the result of an egregious set of medical mistakes” made by employees of Geisinger Health System at Wayne Memorial Hospital. As a result, a lawsuit alleging medical malpractice is being filed on behalf of the family.
The suit seeks damages in excess of $50,000, an amount which according to Casey is a legal requirement in any such filing. The exact figure being sought has not been released.
Column Wayne County Wanderings: Community reeling in the wake of Samson Fluck's death
Autopsy findings reveal additional details
At the request of the Fluck family, an investigation was undertaken by Ross Feller Casey.
This investigation included a thorough review of Fluck’s autopsy, which revealed a large mass in his chest.
That mass was caused by cancerous lymphoma, which according to the autopsy findings, restricted Fluck's breathing and compressed his heart causing cardiac arrest. He had complained of chest pain and shortness of breath, which caused his mother to bring him to the ER on November 3, 2022.
Ross Feller Casey asserts that a chest x-ray was taken of Fluck at the Wayne Memorial Hospital emergency room. Attorney Casey stated it was “properly read and interpreted” by the radiologist, who recommended a “contrast enhanced CT scan” be performed. It was not.
Instead, according to Attorney Casey, Fluck was diagnosed with strep throat and a rhinovirus. He was prescribed medication at the ER, given a shot for inflammation and sent home.
Less than three days later, Fluck was dead.
“We’ve consulted some of the best pediatric oncologists in the world and they all say that this cancer is absolutely treatable,” Attorney Casey said. “He would have lived beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
Several hours after the conclusion of the press conference, Wayne Memorial Public Relations Manager Lisa Champeau told the paper that it is hospital policy not to comment on pending litigation.
This story may update.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Autopsy of northeast Pa. football player reveals new findings
