When a patient in Delaware must visit a doctor, the expectation is that the result will make the patient better, not worse. Surgical errors were recently made in another state, though it could happen anywhere. The patient was undergoing a temporary surgery but will now need medical care for the rest of her life because of the mistake a surgeon made.
On March 26, 2009, a 56-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for injuries she suffered in a traffic accident. On April 3, the surgeon performed a temporary tracheostomy on the patient to assist with breathing. According to the lawsuit, the small incision the surgeon made in the front of her neck, into the windpipe, was too high, causing permanent damage. A tube has been permanently installed in the patients’ throat in order for her to breathe. It will remain there for the rest of her life.
A week-long trial recently resulted in a verdict for the patient. She was awarded nearly $2.8 million dollars for loss of past and future earnings, past and future non-economic damages and yearly medical care. The jury determined that the patient was victim to substandard care that caused permanent damage.
It is unnerving to think that visiting a hospital may result in a medical mistake that could result in further injuries. If a patient in Delaware has suffered because of surgical errors, he or she may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim in a civil court of law. A successful claim could result in compensation to assist with medical costs, pain and suffering and other monetary relief.
Source: delcotimes.com, “Botched surgery at Crozer-Chester leads to $2.8M malpractice award“, Alex Rose, Aug. 27, 2015
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