$1.57 million verdict in medical malpractice lawsuit
People in Massachusetts suffer from serious accidents all the time. In the aftermath of such an accident, they are likely scared and in pain, trusting that medical care professionals will adequately treat and diagnose their injuries. While most doctors and other personnel are well-trained professionals, mistakes happen that can cause significant harm to patients who are already suffering. One out-of-state man and his wife have recently won a medical malpractice lawsuit after claiming that negligence caused him serious injury.
The man reportedly fell 16 feet off of scaffolding onto concrete in Feb. 2011 and was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. Reports indicate that he injured his left arm and leg in the fall. He reportedly began suffering severe pain in his left hand during his stay at the hospital.
His wife claims that she requested a doctor look at her husband. He was given morphine, which masked the pain, but a resident apparently determined that the pain the patient was experiencing was not out of the ordinary based on the injuries he suffered. It wasn’t until several hours later that a supervising surgeon discovered that the patient’s hand was completely numb. He was ultimately diagnosed with compartment syndrome which occurs when swelling from an injury restricts the flow of blood. Because the man’s condition, he suffered permanent damage and has been unable to work for four years.
A jury has recently awarded the man and his wife $1.57 million, finding that the time it took to properly diagnose the patient constituted neglect. Although the hospital continues to assert that there was no negligence, it does not plan to appeal the verdict. Unfortunately, there are people in Massachusetts are who are also suffering as a result of medical malpractice. These people also have the option of seeking legal recourse in a civil court, potentially resulting in a monetary award that allows them to better manage the economic consequences of their suffering.
Source: peninsuladailynews.com, “Port Angeles man awarded $1.5 million in medical negligence verdict”, Paul Gottlieb, Dec. 24, 2015
