A Colorado jury has signed its verdict for $14.9 million to a couple in Colorado. This medical negligence lawsuit alleged that an outpatient surgery center was negligent in administering a steroid that caused Robbin Smith’s paralysis from the waist down. The jury determined that The Surgery Center at Lone Tree…
Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog
State Supreme Court Reverses on Allowing Amendment to Complaint After Statute of Limitations Had Run
Plaintiff Donald Brier brought a cause of action against a practice group and an orthopedic surgeon, Greater Hartford Orthopedic Group P.C., and David Kruger, MD, an orthopedic surgeon (collectively, Defendants), alleging medical malpractice arising out of a spinal surgery that went bad. After the running of the applicable statute of limitations, Brier…
Overload of Fluids in Hospital Negligence Case Leads to Wrongful Death
Alice Mays was 54 when she entered the emergency room at Sinai-Grace Hospital. She was complaining of nausea and vomiting over a four-day period. After the emergency department medical providers tested her, it was revealed that she had a bowel obstruction. The emergency department staff then gave her saline and…
Medical Practitioners are Alerted That Patient Deaths Caused by Medical Errors Are Out of Control
It is no secret that thousands of American patients die or are permanently and seriously injured by medical providers. More than 250,000 Americans die in hospitals every year due to medical errors. That staggering number makes deaths in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and long-term care centers the third most…
Joint Commission for Health Care Professionals Issues Alert on Preventing Medical Errors
“Leaders must commit to creating and maintaining a culture of safety.” National Patient Safety Foundation. Free From Harm: Accelerating patient safety improvement for 15 years after To Err is Human. 2015 (accessed Dec. 8, 2016). This is just a part of the Sentinel Event Alert publication of The Joint Commission Issue…
$650,000 Jury Verdict for Medical Negligence in Amputation of Minor’s Finger
In a case being reported with a confidentiality agreement, Doe, age 15, developed a mass on the bone of her left middle finger, for which orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ronald Hillock recommended surgery. During the outpatient procedure, Dr. Hillock used a latex Penrose drain to place a tourniquet around Doe’s finger.…
Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by Unnecessary and Improper Intubation by Paramedics
Kelly Wolfe was 56 years old when he was involved in a motorcycle crash. Paramedics from the city of Grand Prairie arrived at the crash location where they found him alert and breathing regularly. The paramedics attempted unsuccessfully to intubate Wolfe. The paramedics undertook the intubation even though Wolfe told…
U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms $2.1 Million Judgment in Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Case
This case concerned the first of over 500 cases regarding the Wright Medical Conserve “metal-on-metal” hip replacement device designed and manufactured by the defendant. The plaintiff filed a products liability suit alleging, among other things, that the defendant was liable for design defects based on strict liability and negligence. On…
Illinois Appellate Court Rules that Affidavit of Merit Required for Athletic Trainer’s Negligence
The Illinois Appellate Court has ruled that the guardians of a seriously injured student football player must include a supporting statement from a health care professional to proceed with the case. The guardians had claimed in a lawsuit that a physical and sports-injury therapist provided improper care that caused or…
$29 Million Jury Verdict for Misdiagnosed Neurological Disorder that Caused Catastrophic Brain Damage and Paralysis
A Springfield, Mo., jury signed a verdict for $28.9 million for a 24-year-old woman who sustained a devastating brain injury caused by a rare copper disorder. The lawsuit, brought in Greene County, Mo., claimed that a local hospital’s medical staff chose not to correctly diagnose and treat Emilee Williams’ symptoms. In fact,…