Teen girl dies after hospital misdiagnoses her with hormonal condition that affects men
A jury in Maine awarded $25 million to the mother of a teenage patient who died after a misdiagnosis that a court found to be an act of medical negligence.
Jasmine Vincent, 15, arrived at MainHealth’s Mid Coast Medical Group on July 21, complaining of symptoms including soreness in veins, swollen breasts and respiratory issues.
After a diagnosis of pneumonia was ruled insufficient, a doctor at Mid Coast Medical diagnosed her with gynecomastia—an enlargement of the breasts that occurs in men and boys as a result of hormone imbalance, often caused by steroid use, liver failure, or other endocrine system issues.
On Aug. 1, 2021, Vincent died of cardiac arrest, less than three weeks after her symptoms began, the lawsuit against the health system stated.
Notably, during this time, the teenage girl was referred to multiple providers, including a gynecologist. However, the misdiagnosis at Mid Coast Medical was the central focus of the lawsuit, given that Vincent was female and received a diagnosis extremely rare for her biology.
She ultimately died of fluid buildup due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, court documents revealed.
According to lawyers representing Vincent’s mother, the hospital did not properly examine the patient’s medical history or check her vitals, constituting malpractice. They contended that the death of the 15-year-old was preventable.
Lawyers for Maine Health, serving as the defense, argued that the other providers who cared for Vincent also shared in the blame for her death and that the facility should not be penalized for a simple mistake.
However, after evidence and testimony were presented at trial, a jury disagreed, finding Maine Health liable for damages caused by Mid Coast Medical staff.
Lyndsey Sutherland, Vincent’s mother, was then awarded $25 million in damages for the loss of her daughter. The jury took only an hour to deliberate.
The final decision was announced on Oct. 31, 2025.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.