Man awarded $2.1 million in medical malpractice suit
A medical malpractice suit brought on by an out-of-state man for medical negligence that cost him his leg resulted in the man collecting the suit’s award recently. The 28-year-old man received $2.1 million for economic as well as non-economic losses incurred as a result of the medical malpractice. When residents in Pennsylvania suffer harm due to medical negligence, typically they are entitled to file a medical malpractice suit against the responsible party or parties.
The man had been involved in a motorcycle accident in 2012 that resulted in him suffering a fractured knee. He received treatment at a hospital and he underwent surgery to have his knee repaired. Shortly thereafter, the man developed acute compartment syndrome. This condition causes muscles and tissues to swell, resulting in the blood supply to the muscle to be cut off, which typically ends in the associated nerves dying.
According to the claim, the man’s nurses documented his condition, but failed to notify or inform doctors of this. Had his doctors been made aware of this, a course of action and treatment could have been undertaken that might have resulted in reversing this damage. Unfortunately, the man instead lost all feeling in that leg and his leg was amputated later as a result.
The man was awarded $1.3 million as compensation for the economic damages he suffered as a result of the hospital’s negligence — this included his lost wages and medical bills in the past as well as future medical needs and wages. The jury also awarded him $1.5 million for non-economic damages suffered. That amount was halved in order to comply with Wisconsin state’s cap of $750,000 that can be awarded for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. When Pennsylvania residents are victims of medical malpractice like this man, they typically choose to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who can assess the validity of their claim and offer legal advice and representation during any and all legal proceedings that may occur.
Source: jsonline.com, “2 malpractice claims paid after surmounting legal hurdles”, Cary Spivak, Jan. 9, 2016
