Malpractice Victim Awarded $813,000

Misdiagnosis can have a very serious negative impact on a person’s health. When a doctor fails to properly diagnose a patient’s condition, the patient does not receive the treatment they need to become well. This can lead to a worsening of the condition and can result in very serious, potentially permanent, injury or possibly even death.

A woman in Spokane, Washington has been awarded by a jury $813,000. The woman, Darlene Turner, was a victim of medical malpractice where her doctor, Nathan Stime, failed to properly diagnose her and as a result she lost her left foot due to amputation. Had she been properly diagnosed the amputation would not have been necessary.

Turner went to Dr. Stime in 2004 where, after failing to conduct an appropriate physical, diagnosed her with terminal cancer. She was however actually suffering from pneumonia. The pneumonia caused her to lapse into a coma and later her left foot needed to be removed by amputation.

Turner was awarded damages for past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and for the changes to her lifestyle the loss of her foot caused.

People go to the doctor’s office expecting that their medical condition will be properly diagnosed. Failure to provide a proper diagnosis can be especially serious if the patient has a serous ailment. Additionally, such a failure can lead to serious and possibly even fatal results. Nevertheless, doctors do sometimes make such mistakes. Breast cancer, lung cancer, strokes, and pulmonary embolism are some of the most commonly misdiagnosed diseases.

Doctors spend years studying medicine and as result many people rely on their judgment when they are suffering from a serious medical condition. However, even doctors with a lot of experience make mistakes. When such mistakes occur a medical malpractice lawsuit may be necessary for the victim to obtain compensation.

But what do you think? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com . You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.