Firm News- Recent Medical Malpractice Settlement

Will Parker

Contributor

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As an attorney, I represent individuals in collecting compensation they are entitled after experiencing life altering events. On a recent case, our firm represented an elderly lady who lived a fulfilling, active life.
The case began with a visit to her family doctor. He discovered lingering effects from a prior injury and referred her to a specialist. After seeing the specialist, the only remedy was surgery. He also decided the medication she was taking, Coumadin, was not effective and prescribed Lovenox instead. This change required our client to inject the medication into her bloodstream twice daily. In accordance with the doctor’s prescription she followed the directions.
Up to that point, taking medication was part of her daily routine, so she didn’t think twice and simply followed the doctor’s orders. However, the doctor’s decision would prove to haunt this lady for the rest of her life.
On the morning of her scheduled surgery she injected the required daily dose of her medication as prescribed by her doctor. Upon her arrival to the hospital, during her preoperative workup, she was never asked whether or not she had taken any medications that morning, nor was any testing done to determine if her blood levels were within the acceptable range to undergo a surgical procedure.

Following surgery, our client complained of extreme pain in her lower back radiating to her lower extremities. As the evening progressed, she complained of progressive weakness and developed paraplegia. Due to her pacemaker, an MRI was not an option. Her initial CT failed to demonstrate a hemorrhage yet a CT monogram revealed a spinal hematoma.

Two days later, our client underwent another surgery to remove the hematoma. As a direct result of the hematoma, she sustained permanent paralysis. The spinal hematoma resulted from the injection of her prescribed medication. As a result of her limited mobility due to paralysis, she developed decubitus ulcers and ultimately had to have her leg amputated below the knee.

We were able to settle this lady’s case for $425,000.00. Considering her age and pre-existing conditions, both the client and our firm considered this a favorable outcome. Although nothing can truly make things right for this woman, a favorable settlement has, at least, allowed her to cope with the situation and have some sort of closure following such a tragic event.