A civil jury in Maine has awarded $25m to a mother whose 15-year-old daughter died from leukaemia after doctors misdiagnosed her with a condition linked to steroid use. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, came in favour of Lyndsey Sutherland following the 2021 death of Jasmine 'Jazzy' Vincent.
The award includes $10m for wrongful death and $15m for pain and suffering, though Maine state law caps such damages at $750,000, meaning the final amount may be reduced. Sutherland's attorney, Meryl Poulin, said the verdict sends a clear message about holding medical providers accountable for failing to meet minimum standards of care.
Jazzy first fell ill on 14 July 2021 and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. A doctor at Mid Coast Medical Group later concluded she had gynecomastia, a condition involving increased breast tissue often seen in men using anabolic steroids. She died of cardiac arrest on 1 August 2021, just over two weeks after her symptoms began.
An autopsy revealed that Jazzy's death was caused by a fluid buildup from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a common paediatric cancer that is highly treatable with proper diagnosis. Sutherland sued Mid Coast Medical Group for negligence. During the trial, which began on Monday, Sutherland testified about pursuing justice to prevent similar tragedies.
Mid Coast's attorneys argued that honest mistakes should not be punished and noted that another provider who first saw Jazzy shared responsibility. The jury sided with Sutherland. Poulin expressed hope that the verdict would bring closure for the loss of Jazzy, describing her as a beautiful, innocent 15-year-old girl.
