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Lottery Numbers for Monday, Feb. 29

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Dustin Jeffrey returns to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

<p>Jury selection is expected to resume Tuesday in the medical malpractice trial of a late local doctor.</p><p>Dr. Jennifer Sidari, 26, of West Pittston, died at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville over the 2013 Memorial Day weekend of complications from a blood clot. A subsequent lawsuit filed against Geisinger in January 2014 alleged Sidari&#8217;s death was avoidable if not for a series of errors that began shortly after her arrival at the Plains Township hospital.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge Lesa S. Gelb heard arguments from lawyers regarding two dozen motions Monday morning before potential jurors were ushered into the courtroom just after 1 p.m. After being questioned as a group, just 16 jurors were interviewed individually before Gelb dismissed the panel just after 5 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;We will try to get through this process as fast as we can,&#8221; Gelb assured a crowded courtroom of 70 potential jurors before excusing them for the day with orders to return to the courthouse at 9 a.m.</p><p>Once seated, the jury will consider testimony in <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/514841/medical-malpractice-trial-in-death-of-dr-jennifer-sidari-to-start-next-week" target="_blank">what is expected to be a lengthy civil trial</a> that could last up to seven weeks and feature hundreds of potential witnesses, including experts from Harvard, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania.</p><p>The issue at hand will be whether the medical care provided to Sidari in the days leading up to her death was rendered appropriately by Geisinger staff or was part of a breakdown by staff in recognizing what was allegedly a correctable condition.</p><p>Geisinger&#8217;s lawyers have defended the care rendered to Sidari, claiming it was &#8220;timely and appropriate&#8221; and &#8220;in accordance with the accepted standard of medical care in the community.&#8221;</p><p>Court documents indicate lawyers for Geisinger will note Sidari&#8217;s extensive travel history prior to her death, including trips made to Africa and Haiti, as well as the possible existence of a pre-existing condition that couldn&#8217;t be treated.</p><p>The oldest of three siblings, Sidari was a graduate of Wyoming Area High School and the University of Scranton. She was a member of The Commonwealth Medical College&#8217;s charter class and among the first wave of locally trained students to receive a doctor of medicine degree from the Scranton-based medical college.</p><p>Sidari was admitted to the emergency department of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township just after 4 p.m. Sunday, May 26, complaining of severe and recurring headaches that didn&#8217;t go away with the help of over-the-counter medications as well as bruising on her upper and lower body, according to the lawsuit.</p><p>Sidari&#8217;s symptoms, coupled with abnormal blood work, should have raised red flags that prompted head-imaging studies and consultation with a neurologist, but neither immediately occurred, the complaint alleges.</p><p>It wasn&#8217;t until just before noon on May 28, nearly 44 hours since she arrived at the hospital, that a CT scan of Sidari&#8217;s head was performed, according to the complaint. By that point, Sidari was unable to answer questions due to her altered mental status and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, the complaint says.</p><p>After a second CT scan indicated a worsening condition, a life flight transfer to Danville was arranged, the complaint says. However, the life flight was delayed due to an unspecified problem with the helicopter and Sidari was transferred over 50 miles away to Danville via ambulance, the complaint alleges.</p><p>Another CT scan upon arrival revealed the blood clot had inflicted &#8220;catastrophic damage&#8221; on the brain, causing a loss of blood to both hemispheres and &#8220;neurological devastation,&#8221; the complaint says.</p><p>Sidari fell into a coma and was placed on life support until her family was notified there was likely zero chance of recovery, the complaint alleges. She was pronounced dead at 4:37 a.m. Wednesday, May 29.</p><p>Opening statements in the trial are expected to begin Tuesday afternoon.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Sidari </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Sidari_Jen_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Sidari </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Jury yet to be seated for medical malpractice trial in Dr. Jennifer Sidari death