The article recounts the tragic death of American actor John Ritter on his daughter’s birthday and the subsequent efforts of his wife, Amy Yasbeck, to raise awareness about the medical condition that led to his demise. John Ritter, born on September 17, 1948, married Amy Yasbeck in 1999, and they had one daughter together, Stella Ritter, who later transitioned to Noah Lee Ritter.
John Ritter passed away on September 11, 2003, due to an undetected aortic dissection. On the same day, while on the set for rehearsals of “8 Simple Rules,” he experienced severe nausea and vomiting and was rushed to the hospital. John’s concern for “ruining Stella’s birthday” with his illness was noted by his wife, Amy, who was with him at the time.
Medical documents revealed that John had an aortic dissection, a condition where the inner layer of the aorta splits open due to increased pressure. Despite medical efforts, John Ritter, aged 54, passed away on his daughter’s fifth birthday.
Amy Yasbeck filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctors who treated John, seeking compensation of $67 million. The lawsuit alleged negligence in not detecting an enlarged aorta during a full-body scan in 2001, which could have led to emergency surgery. However, the jury cleared the doctors of negligence, stating that they did everything they could to detect the illness.
Following the trial, Amy Yasbeck decided to raise awareness about aortic dissection and founded the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. The foundation provides information, funds, and tools to help detect, treat, and prevent aortic dissection. Amy has been an advocate for patients to ask their doctors about the “John Ritter thing” when experiencing chest pains.
While the lawsuit did not result in compensation, Amy Yasbeck’s foundation has contributed to saving lives by increasing awareness of aortic dissection. The foundation has developed the Ritter Score, a diagnostic tool, and the Ritter Rules to aid in the correct and timely diagnosis of the condition.
In 2022, Amy Yasbeck revealed that she still misses John Ritter as a partner and has not dated since his death. She expressed that dating would only make her miss her late husband more. Despite the challenges, Amy remains dedicated to the foundation and her acting career, finding solace in the memories of her beloved husband.