When a doctor makes mistakes, it can alter the life of a patient for week, months or even years. Sometimes, this constitutes medical malpractice, which can be filed against a doctor or a medical facility that played a role in the mistake. Recently, a 52-year-old woman filed a suit against two Illinois doctors whose surgical mistakes put her in the position of needing full-time care for the rest of her life. As a result of two settlements, she will receive over $14 million.
A federal jury in Chicago awarded the woman $9.4 million after they found two doctors guilty of negligence. The claim was from a bariatric surgery that occurred in February 2010. The doctors were found to have given the wrong medication to the woman, which caused extensive internal bleeding and a loss of the flow of blood to the brain. The woman now has brain damage as a result.
The hospital where the surgery was performed settled with the woman out of court before the trial for $5 million. The remaining difference of the total $14 million settlement will be used for the full-time care for the 52-year-old woman. Her sisters are now living with the woman to care for her, and her husband has since left her.
Illinois patients who are considering surgery have been urged by the woman to do research on any surgeon that will be performing the surgery. Those who have had complications in the operating room due to the negligence of a doctor or hospital may wish to speak with an attorney who can present all of his or her legal options to him or her. These attorneys can assist in determining who can be taken to court and for which surgical mistakes.
Source: nwitimes.com, “Michigan City woman awarded $14.4 million in federal medical malpractice suit“, Giles Bruce, April 30, 2015