A Closer Look At 3 High-Profile Medical Malpractice Cases
Patients rely on healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose medical conditions and injuries. However, a concerning report published by My Medical Score revealed that roughly 12 million Americans are victims of medical errors each year. While many of these misdiagnoses pose little physical risk to the patient, other high-risk medical errors can be life threatening. Listed below are three of the high-profile medical malpractice cases that has caused victims to experience life-changing injuries.
$74 Million Malpractice Lawsuit
In 2009, a jury awarded $74,225,000 to a couple on behalf of their newborn daughter who was neglected during her delivery and has developed cerebral palsy. The presented evidences during the trial showed that even when the heart rate of the baby was fluctuating wildly, the doctor did not examined the cord blood or even hastened the birth to spare the newborn. Despite the prevalent negligence on the part of the doctor, the hospital still refused to accept fault and even tried to cover up their wrongdoings by falsifying the baby’s medical records. The court ruled that the parents and the baby should not go through all this because the doctor failed to follow proper standards of care during the delivery. As a result, the jury awarded damages amounting to $74 million to cover medical expenses that the family would incur throughout the course of the baby’s lifetime.
Unethical Malpractice Resulting in a Four-Year Coma
A Florida man was awarded $38.5 million after a medical malpractice that left him in coma for four years. It all started when the patient consulted a doctor about his shoulder and leg discomfort. The doctor suggested performing a manual joint manipulation on all of the patient’s major joints under anesthesia, which has caused him to lose a significant amount of oxygen to his brain. Undertaking this procedure has also caused the patient to be diagnosed with stroke and left him in a vegetative state for four years. It was then revealed that the doctor had unnecessarily done the procedure to boost his own income. Just like this man, hiring a medical malpractice lawyer has helped thousands of victims each year to file lawsuits against doctors who have failed to provide a proper standard of care that has caused them to experience injuries unduly.
The Tragic Death of Michael Jackson
Superstars are not immune to medical malpractices done by negligent healthcare professionals. One of the most shocking death that seemingly came out of nowhere occurred in June 25, 2009, when Michael Jackson was found dead due to a lethal combination of propofol and sedatives administered by his personal in-home physician. Two years later, his personal doctor was found guilty and was arrested for involuntary manslaughter in attempt to help the singer sleep. Following his death, the court has sentenced the doctor a maximum of four years in prison and suspended his medical licenses.
From experienced surgeons to therapists, medical malpractice exists in all fields of medicine. When a misdiagnosis happens, it is advisable to seek additional medical advice from other physicians and consult with a trustworthy legal professional who can provide guidance throughout the process.
