State pays Charleston Co. man after alleged mental health misdiagnosis

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The state’s Insurance Reserve Fund has paid a man more than $100,000 following an alleged misdiagnosis at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The lawsuit, filed back in July of 2020 claims that John Roe was being evaluated at MUSC and they noted depression along with a vitamin B-12 deficiency.

The victim’s attorneys claim MUSC failed to adequately investigate whether Roe was suffering from a medical condition that would inhibit his body from absorbing vitamin B-12.

Court documents show that Roe was not suffering from a psychiatric illness, but that MUSC treated him with serial electro-convulsive therapy to which his health did not respond to.

Depression and neurologic symptoms are both signs of a Vitamin B-12 deficiency, the suit states.

Records show that MUSC then learned that Roe had a medical history involving a condition that prevented him from absorbing Vitamin B-12.

However, attorneys claim that MUSC continued to treat Roe with electrotherapy.

Because MUSC is associated with the state, the state insurance fund paid Roe $135,000.

The Medical University of South Carolina has not yet responded to a request for comment.