Surgical Error

Hospital Pays $135 Million For Surgical Malpractice

July 30, 2018 by Carrie Capouellez
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

All surgery comes with risks, and patients and their families have the legal right to a full explanation of these risks before undergoing procedures. Weighing the benefits and risks of a procedure can be extremely difficult, particularly if the patient is a minor. One risk patients should never have to face is surgical malpractice; but, sadly it does happen and the consequences can be catastrophic.

Surgical malpractice forever changed the life of a ten-year-old girl when she underwent surgery for scoliosis at the Children’s Hospital at the Detroit Medical Center (DMC). The operation started off well and the surgeon placed rods and screws in the girl’s spine to help straighten the spinal column. The hardware inserted caused compression of the spinal cord, which caused numbness in the girl’s limbs.

The minor child patient needed the hardware removed immediately to prevent permanent damage, but her surgeon instead went on vacation twice. The girl suffered paralysis and an incontinent bowel for ten days until another doctor recognized her serious condition and removed the hardware. Unfortunately, at this point it was too late. The young patient was left with permanent quadriplegia and permanent loss of bowel and bladder control.

After just two hours of deliberation, a jury awarded the young girl and her family $135 million in damages. While no amount of money can reverse the child’s suffering and lifelong disabilities, the award will help cover the cost of ongoing medical treatment for the rest of her life.

Understanding Surgical Malpractice

Most surgeons receive ample training before taking the lead on an operation; however, surgeons still make mistakes. It only takes one moment of lost focus for a doctor to cause permanent damage. Doctors can also commit surgical malpractice by being inattentive. When a patient’s condition begins to change, doctors need to remain vigilant in their treatment, so they are aware of the medical issues and can act accordingly.

Getting Help After Surgical Malpractice

If you or someone you love suffered surgical malpractice in a Philadelphia hospital, contact the surgical malpractice lawyers at Lopez McHugh LLP today. We can help you understand your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. We offer completely free consultations and there is no upfront cost for working with us.

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