In a perfect world, any care given by a medical professional would always be correct. There would be no misdiagnosis, no doctor errors and no hospital negligence. Unfortunately, the world we live in is far from perfect and medical negligence and malpractice happens more frequently than we would like to think. For patients in Lexington, Kentucky, they simply want to trust doctors and other medical staff to take care of their needs.
In Kentucky’s neighboring state of Missouri, a jury has just awarded the family of a 34-year-old woman more than $10.8 million in compensatory damages. The lawsuit was filed by the husband and children on behalf of the woman, who died after having a cardiac procedure done at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.
The verdict is the largest ever recorded for medical negligence in this major metropolitan area of Missouri. The trial was long and jurors sat for eight days hearing evidence and testimony from both sides. After the juror’s votes were tallied, the verdict was in favor of the plaintiffs, with the votes 11 to 1.
The woman had gone in to the hospital because she thought she had bronchitis. Medical tests soon showed that she had a possible problem with her heart, even though it was clear and healthy. One of the attorneys for the defendants, which were Mercy Clinic Hear and Vascular, LLC, and the doctor who performed the cardiac procedure, said that the woman who died had one of her coronary arteries damaged during the cardiac catheterization. The artery lining collapsed and her heart did not receive enough blood. She was taken into surgery almost an hour later, but it was too late.
The clinic and the doctor say the woman’s death was due to a “rare complication,” but maintains that all personnel involved acted appropriately. The jury did not agree, but did not award punitive damages in the case. The defendants have already said they will appeal the jury verdict.
Medical malpractice or negligence can occur at any time when someone seeks medical care. An experienced personal injury attorney can explain your rights and options if you or someone you love have been injured as a result of a doctor error.
