Medical Malpractice Case Results In A Multi-Million Dollar Verdict

Both misdiagnosis and the failure to diagnose a condition can be very dangerous.  As with many types of illnesses responding quickly and accurately is extremely important as delayed diagnosis may have catastrophic consequences.

Residents of New York may be interested to hear about a recent jury decision which awarded a family of a patient who died $2.4 million.  The woman, who died in 2007, sought emergency treatment because she was experiencing severe pain in her back and abdomen.

The patient had undergone gastric bypass surgery two years earlier.  This is a relatively common procedure.  Obstruction of the bowel is often a complication of this type of surgery.  However the lawsuit claimed that failure to diagnose was what lead to her death.  Named in the lawsuit was the doctor in the emergency room who attended to the woman and the hospital group that employed him.

Left behind after the woman’s death were her husband, son, and a granddaughter.  Her husband was relieved after the end of the lawsuit and that the jury found in his family’s favor.  When his wife went in for treatment he had not thought about any of the possible risk his wife might be facing as “[y]ou never think it will happen to your loved one who suffers or even dies from a medical error.”

Many types of complications can occur after a surgery has ended.  Protecting patients should be of the greatest concern.  Catching complications quickly can help in minimizing their effect.  The staff at the hospital has a responsibility for caring for their patients and being aware during their recovery.

Victims and the families of victims of delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose may not be aware of their legal rights.  Therefore, if you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a delayed diagnosis or the failure to diagnose, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

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.