Recently, a Michigan jury awarded a woman $1.3M in a medical malpractice lawsuit. According to news reports, the woman underwent elective abdominal surgery. However, the jury determined that the surgeon who preformed the operation failed to meet the requisite standard of care. As a result of this breach, the woman sustained significant injuries. Complications from the surgery left her with long-term medical issues, both mental and physical, and requires continued treatment for a large stomach wound that has never healed.
In a statement, the woman explained, "I've just lost everything. That is all I can tell you. I lost my faith. I lost my dignity. I lost my independence."
As part of the damage award, the woman received $500,000 in damages for pain, suffering, scarring, disfigurement and associated mental or emotional distress.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm as the result of medical negligence or surgical error, it is critical to consult with an experienced Los Angeles medical malpractice law firm immediately. A knowledgeable Los Angeles surgical error attorney can begin an investigation into what may have caused the injury in your situation and do what it takes to get the compensation you deserve.
Where a doctor fails to meet the standard of care in performing a particular surgery and you are harmed as a result, the surgeon may be found liable and responsible to pay your damages.
This case represents an important example of the need to eliminate medical malpractice caps in California. Here, a large part of the damages the injured woman recovers is for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress caused by the doctor's negligence. In California, that amount is currently capped at $250,000. It is crucial that this limit be raised so that victims of surgical negligence can obtain the compensation they deserve.
For more information, please contact the dedicated Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.
