Man Wins Verdict Of Nearly $4 Million Against Prominent NYC Neurologist
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A prominent New York doctor has been ordered to pay up, after a patient said he was left sick and disabled after treatment.
As CBS 2's Steve Langford reported Monday, Robert Wyble won the multi-million dollar jury verdict against neurologist Dr. Dale Lange.
"I went through a lot of unnecessary stuff; a lot of pain; eventually lost my wife and family over all this -- and I'm like, you know what? He did me wrong," Wyble said.
Lange is a leading New York neurologist, whose diagnosis and treatment of landscaper Wyble led a jury to award the Orange County man nearly $4 million in damages.
When Wyble was first referred to Lange at Mount Sinai Hospital in 2005, he said he thought. "Finally, someone was going to tell me what's wrong with me."
Wyble had been suffering a mysterious medical condition.
"I simply would fall, and then get right back up; fall, get right back up," Wyble said.
Lange diagnosed Wyble with myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease that led to years of serious medical treatment, medication and surgery.
"He removed my thymus gland, which -- I never regained full strength to lift materials because my chest is wired closed," Wyble said.
Lange left Mount Sinai four years later, leaving Wyble – still suffering in need of a new doctor.
"(The new doctor) was not convinced that I had myasthenia gravis, and she discontinued some of the harmful medications," Wyble said.
The new doctor rendered a completely different diagnosis of cataplexy – a sudden muscle weakness. She prescribed a new medication that left Wyble feeling much better.
Lange is now neurologist in chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery on the Upper East Side. He did not return a call from CBS 2 News, and his attorney hung up on a call.
Wyble said a court-ordered award of $4 million will not rebuild his life.
"When I learned I had a crippling, deadly disease, I withdrew from the family. I didn't do the normal family activities with my daughter or son or wife -- and we grew distant," Wyble said. "That's why we're divorced."
Wyble's now ex-wife has also been awarded $1 million by a jury for loss of services.
Lange has moved to overturn the jury verdict on appeal.
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