Jury Awards $3 Million Verdict in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

A jury in Georgia decided late last month to award $3 million to the surviving spouse of a woman who died two days after having what was supposed to be a routine surgery in 2009. According to a local news article discussing the verdict, the husband was awarded the verdict from one of the two defendants who were sued after his wife’s tragic death, which the plaintiff had argued could and should have been prevented.

Doctors and Surgeons Have a Responsibility to Provide Adequate Care After a Surgery and To Detect Possible Complications Before It’s Too Late

Doctors, surgeons, and hospitals in Maryland and across the country have a legal responsibility to ensure that patients remain healthy after a surgery is performed, and their failure to notice and act upon symptoms of a problem that occur during a surgery can subject them to legal liability, even in instances when the surgery appeared to be performed safely and correctly. This is especially true in cases when patients complain of painful or unexpected symptoms after a surgery that may signify that something has gone wrong.

It shouldn’t be a patient’s responsibility to weigh the seriousness of their post-surgical symptoms, since they should be able to trust in the expertise of medical providers to detect and correct possibly dangerous complications from a surgery before a layperson could or should recognize the danger of their specific symptoms. Although the consequences of medical mistakes can tear families apart and may never be fully rectified, the use of a Maryland medical malpractice lawsuit can help victims of medical malpractice and their families to secure at least some justice after such a tragedy occurs.

A Routine Ovarian Cyst Removal Led To Ruptured Intestines and a Patient’s Tragic Death

The wife of the plaintiff in the case chose to have the defendant remove a cyst on one of her ovaries in September 2009. The surgery was supposed to be a routine procedure with a quick recovery. According to the plaintiff’s arguments at the trial, the doctor who was performing the surgery failed to properly check if her bowels had been cut once the cyst was removed, and then he did not address her complaints of unusual abdominal symptoms quickly enough to save her life.

The verdict suggests that the defendant should have realized that the patient was exhibiting signs of ruptured intestines sooner and advised her to seek emergency help immediately upon that realization. Instead, the woman did not go to the emergency room until over 24 hours after the surgery was completed. She died within two days as a result. The jury awarded $3 million in damages to the husband as compensation.

Are You a Victim of Medical Malpractice?

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured, become ill, or died after having a surgery or other medical procedure done, you may be a victim of medical malpractice and be entitled to compensation for your loss. The skilled Maryland and Washington, D.C. medical malpractice attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman have experience handling difficult malpractice and wrongful death cases, and we can fight with doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies to try to get our clients the compensation they deserve. Our malpractice lawyers have offices in the Baltimore/Washington area as well as in Northern Virginia, and we represent victims of medical malpractice nationwide. Contact the qualified Maryland and D.C. malpractice attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman today. Call us at 410-998-3600 or contact us through our website to schedule a risk-free consultation.