The start of the medical malpractice trial concerning Anne Ryan, a College sophomore who died of bacterial meningitis on Sept. 9, 2007, has been postponed again.
The trial is due to commence today at 9 a.m., starting with motions. Opening arguments will start around noon, Thomas Kline, the Ryan family’s attorney, wrote in an e-mail.
According to Kline, the delay is a result of the need to reselect one member of the jury. While jury selection was originally slated for Friday, it continued into Monday and yesterday.
As of this morning, there are 12 jurors and three alternates, Kline wrote.
The suit is being brought by Anne Ryan’s older brother Jed, who alleges that negligence on the part of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s doctors and staff caused Ryan’s brain to herniate following a lumbar puncture.
This lumbar puncture, performed in order to test for the meningococcal bacteria that causes meningitis, was Ryan’s second during her stay at HUP.
The prosecution argues that this second procedure was negligent given the risks associated with it.
