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Not entirely clear from what the article gives, but I would assume they are both plaintiffs in the suit. Before the "marriage," the "spouse" wouldn't have had standing to claim anything. As a "spouse," she can claim loss of consortium. (Loss of consortium can also be claimed by blood relatives, e.g., parents or children.)

Obviously, the woman affected could have filed a medical malpractice suit at any time just on the basis of the misdiagnosis. (I don't know why she didn't or even if she didn't, unless she was waiting for the SJC decision.) But a live-in significant other has no standing.