When accidents occur in New York and result in injuries, the aftermath may be an overwhelming time for the family members of victims. Typically, family members may feel relief once patients have stabilized from their injuries, but unfortunately, risks are present along every stage of the healing process. One man in another state was recently awarded $3.2 million in the medical malpractice lawsuit he filed regarding the care his wife received in the days following her surgery.
His wife was in a car accident that resulted in multiple injuries. She required surgery for her many broken bones and internal injuries, but appeared to be stabilized. Understandably, physicians prescribed medication for any pain she felt, but they prescribed three different types of narcotics. Narcotics have a known risk of resulting in respiratory depression if too much is consumed.
According to records, the woman received pain medication but was not checked on by the nursing staff for almost four hours. During that time, it is believed that she stopped breathing as a result of too much pain medication in her system. When she was found, medical professionals performed cardiac resuscitation, but it was too late. The woman suffered brain injuries that she was not able to recover from and died three months later.
Understandably, the woman’s husband was devastated with losing her. He was especially upset that she appeared to be through the most dangerous part of her injuries when she died. The civil court jury agreed with him in his medical malpractice case and awarded him a monetary judgment. Patients or families in New York with similar unexpected loss due to believed negligent care could benefit from the advice of a medical malpractice attorney. Compensation will not alleviate the grief of losing a loved one, but may help to relieve any resulting financial stress.
Source: mdjonline.com, “Widower gets $3.2 million in hospital suit against WellStar”, Shaddi Abusaid, Aug. 29, 2017