For decades, the “Standard of Care” in medicine has been defined by what a reasonably competent physician would do in similar circumstances. Historically, this standard protected doctors who followed the pack. If most doctors weren’t using a specific technology, you generally couldn’t be sued for not using it either. But we are approaching a legal tipping point.
In the near future, a defense strategy is likely to emerge in courtrooms across Pennsylvania and the United States: The “Black Box” Defense. The scenario is straightforward, but the legal implications are not. As Artificial Intelligence becomes entrenched in our healthcare systems, this tension between clinical judgment and algorithmic reliance is set to become one of the most contested battlegrounds in medical malpractice law.
In July 2024, our client, a 79-year-old woman, presented to a Western Pennsylvania emergency department seeking relief for severe abdominal pain. She reported that she had not had a bowel movement for a week and was worried she was suffering from a bowel obstruction. Despite the severity of her symptoms and her age, the emergency department team failed to appreciate the gravity of her condition.
In the wake of an AI-driven medical error, the financial and legal risk extends immediately past the individual physician. While the first wave of legal inquiry focuses on the doctor’s failure to critically evaluate the algorithm ), the second, often more potent, wave targets the hospital or health system itself.
Most of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. It’s the second most common reason people visit the doctor. Usually, it’s due to a muscle strain, a sprained ligament, or “wear and tear” that, while incredibly painful, is not life-threatening. But sometimes, severe back pain is a warning siren from your body. It can be a symptom of a serious, time-sensitive medical condition that could lead to permanent damage—like paralysis—or even be fatal if not treated immediately.
If you are feeling chest pain right now, it is terrifying. Your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario: a heart attack. The good news is that many causes of chest pain are not life-threatening. It could be heartburn, a pulled muscle, or even anxiety. However, you should never ignore chest pain. It is your body’s most urgent warning signal. The challenge is knowing the difference between a condition that can wait for a doctor’s appointment and one that requires an immediate call to 911.
Did a doctor dismiss your agony as “just back pain”? Cauda Equina Syndrome is a spinal emergency requiring surgery within 48 hours. If a delayed diagnosis led to permanent nerve damage or paralysis, the hospital may have missed your “window of opportunity” for recovery. Learn the critical red-flag symptoms doctors are trained to spot and see if you have a case for malpractice.
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into diagnostic medicine—from flagging subtle anomalies on a chest X-ray to predicting sepsis risk in the ICU—is arguably the most profound shift in medical practice since the invention of the CT scanner. AI promises unmatched speed and accuracy, but for physicians, it introduces a dangerous new layer of liability. Current medical malpractice law is clear: the duty of care is owed by the physician to the patient, and that duty is non-delegable.
Our firm represented a family whose child suffered catastrophic injuries at birth due to negligent medical care during a late-term pregnancy procedure. Through aggressive litigation, including consultation with leading medical experts, we demonstrated that the medical team failed to follow basic safety rules, ignored obvious red flags, and caused permanent harm that will affect this child and family forever.
A recent Erie County Common Pleas Court case resulted in a record-setting $7.25 million verdict for Dr. David M. Irwin, a former chief of pain management at UPMC Hamot, who sued the hospital after a slip-and-fall accident. Irwin and his wife, Monica Zillen, were represented by the Pittsburgh-based law firm Lupetin & Unatin, with attorneys Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin leading the case. The verdict, delivered by a jury on September 12, 2025, is believed to be the largest of its kind in a slip-and-fall lawsuit in Erie County history.
A common and understandable concern for anyone considering a medical malpractice lawsuit is the cost of legal representation. Many people fear that they cannot afford to hire a skilled attorney, especially when facing mounting medical bills and lost wages. This is why the payment structure for these types of cases is so crucial.
When you have suffered a serious injury due to medical negligence, it’s not enough to hire just any attorney. The legal landscape of medical malpractice is exceptionally complex, and recent changes to Pennsylvania law have made it even more challenging to pursue a successful claim.
