A Maine jury has awarded $25 million to a grieving mother whose teenage daughter died after doctors failed to diagnose her leukemia, mistaking it for a male hormone-related condition. The verdict, delivered Thursday, found medical providers negligent in the death of 15-year-old Jasmine “Jazzy” Vincent. Although state law caps wrongful death damages far below the awarded sum, the case sends a powerful message about medical accountability and the human cost of diagnostic failures.
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Tragic Misdiagnosis Unfolds
Fifteen-year-old Jazzy Vincent first fell ill on 14 July 2021 and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Later, a doctor with Mid Coast Medical Group concluded she had gynecomastia, a condition commonly found in men who use anabolic steroids. Just over two weeks later, on 1 August, Jazzy died of cardiac arrest. Subsequent medical findings revealed her death resulted from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer that is highly treatable if detected early.
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Jury Delivers Massive Verdict
On Thursday, jurors awarded Jazzy’s mother, Lyndsey Sutherland, $25 million—$10 million for wrongful death and $15 million for emotional pain and suffering. Her attorney, Meryl Poulin, confirmed the verdict, acknowledging it could be appealed and that Maine’s statutory limit for wrongful death damages is $750,000. Still, she emphasized the ruling’s significance, saying it “sends a clear message that Maine juries are willing to hold medical providers accountable when they fail to meet minimum standards of care.”
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Mother’s Fight for Justice
Sutherland’s relentless pursuit of justice spanned years of emotional and legal struggle. Her lawyer described her perseverance as “beyond inspiring.” In a statement, Poulin said, “Watching Lyndsey continue to push year after year, uphill, against the odds, to get justice for her daughter was beyond inspiring. This result was possible because of her unbelievable perseverance and determination to obtain justice for Jazzy.” She added that she hopes the verdict “will finally bring some peace and closure for the tragic loss of this beautiful, innocent 15-year-old girl.”
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Medical Errors Under Scrutiny
Sutherland’s lawsuit accused Mid Coast Medical Group of negligence, arguing that doctors failed to recognize signs of leukemia, a common pediatric cancer with high survival rates when diagnosed properly. The misdiagnosis of gynecomastia—especially in a teenage girl—became a focal point of the trial. Jurors concluded that medical professionals did not meet basic care standards that could have saved Jazzy’s life.
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Hospital Defense Falls Short
Mid Coast Medical Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the verdict. However, according to reports from local media, the hospital’s attorneys argued that doctors must make numerous rapid decisions daily and that honest mistakes should not be punished. They also claimed another medical provider who initially examined Jazzy shared responsibility for her death. The jury ultimately rejected those arguments, siding with Sutherland after a week-long trial.
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Courtroom Emotion and Impact
During her testimony, Sutherland tearfully explained why she pursued legal action. “I don’t want anybody else to have to do this,” she told the court. “Nobody should have to do this.” Her words captured the emotional toll of losing a child to a preventable medical error. Observers described the courtroom atmosphere as somber yet resolute, with the verdict marking both closure and accountability.
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Broader Message on Accountability
Though the awarded amount exceeds Maine’s legal cap and may face reduction or appeal, advocates see the ruling as a symbolic victory. It highlights growing public intolerance for medical negligence and the systemic need for better diagnostic vigilance. For families like Sutherland’s, the case represents both justice achieved and a call to prevent similar tragedies in the future.