Brunswick, ME — A Maine mother has been awarded $25 million after a jury found Mid Coast Medical Group negligent in the death of her 15-year-old daughter, whose leukemia symptoms were misdiagnosed as a condition commonly seen in men.
The lawsuit, filed by Lyndsey Sutherland, claimed her daughter, Jasmine “Jazzy” Vincent, died from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after doctors failed to recognize critical warning signs and sent her home without further testing.
Misdiagnosis and Missed Warning Signs
According to court documents, Jazzy first saw her primary care doctor on July 14, 2021, for shortness of breath and a worsening cough. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and prescribed prednisone, a steroid commonly used to reduce inflammation.
Twelve days later, on July 26, Sutherland took her daughter to Mid Coast Medical Group after Jazzy developed swollen, firm, and discolored breasts, as well as distended veins across her chest and neck.
At the medical center, a physician dismissed her symptoms as a reaction to the steroid and diagnosed her with gynecomastia — a condition typically seen in men who use anabolic steroids. According to PEOPLE, doctors failed to order additional tests or imaging and sent Jazzy home without further treatment.
“The physician attributed Jazzy’s symptoms to a reaction to medication, not recognizing signs consistent with an underlying malignancy,” attorneys wrote in the complaint.
Rapid Decline and Tragic Outcome
Over the following days, Jazzy’s condition worsened. On July 31, she was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors discovered a large accumulation of fluid in her chest.
She was transferred to Maine Medical Center and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, but soon went into cardiac arrest. Jazzy died on August 1, 2021, just two weeks shy of her 16th birthday.
An autopsy later revealed that the fluid buildup was caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) — a highly curable form of blood and bone marrow cancer when diagnosed early.
“This was a senseless and completely avoidable death,” said attorney Meryl Poulin, who represented Sutherland in the lawsuit. “Jazzy’s disease was treatable, and she could have received life-saving therapy had her doctors taken her symptoms seriously.”
The Legal Battle and Jury Verdict
Sutherland sued Mid Coast Medical Group for negligence, alleging that staff failed to meet the standard of care. The case went to trial in October 2025, where jurors heard testimony from medical experts and reviewed evidence showing that Jazzy’s cancer could have been detected early.
On October 30, the jury found Mid Coast Medical Group liable and awarded Sutherland $10 million for wrongful death and $15 million for pain and suffering, totaling $25 million.
“Watching Lyndsey continue to push year after year, uphill, against the odds, to get justice for her daughter was beyond inspiring,” Poulin said after the verdict. “This result was possible because of her unbelievable perseverance.”
Hospital Response and Ongoing Reflection
A spokesperson for MaineHealth, which owns Mid Coast Medical Group, issued a brief statement following the verdict, saying:
“Our foremost commitment is to provide safe, high-quality care to all patients,” the company said, declining further comment on the case or the jury’s decision.
The hospital’s legal team argued that medical staff make complex decisions daily and should not face harsh penalties for every diagnostic mistake.
However, the jury disagreed, finding the evidence showed a clear pattern of negligence that cost a young life.
Sutherland said she hopes the ruling serves as a wake-up call for healthcare providers to take every patient’s symptoms seriously.
“I hope this verdict brings some peace and closure,” Poulin added, “for the tragic loss of this beautiful, innocent 15-year-old girl.”
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case and the importance of accurate medical diagnosis? Share your views in the comments below.
