Two gastroenterologists lose a malpractice suit by missing a case of C. Difficile colitis
From the sketchy information in the story – a 69-year old man was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Antibiotics were given, but it appeared that this caused a case of C. Difficile colitis. The gastroenterologists were called in, but for some reason did not test for this:

“The doctors failed to do tests that would have shown that he had developed colitis from the antibiotics, Bronxville attorney Christopher Meagher said.

“They missed every opportunity to diagnose and treat him,” Meagher said.

The colitis progressed to toxic megacolon which has a 31 to 35 percent mortality rate when caused by C. Difficile. The following plain film shows such a case of toxic megacolon – with the markedly dilated bowel clearly seen.