Medical malpractice can have heartbreaking consequences for innocent patients. Hospital negligence and other types of malpractice can be life-altering and cause serious injuries. This is known all too well for one teen and his mother who have filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Health & Science University.
The lawsuit claims that the boy was burned during a magnetic resonance imaging exam. It is alleged that the burns happened when an imaging tech left pads containing metal attached to the boy during a MRI. The incident happened in September of 2011 when he first received an electrocardiogram at OHSU to check his heart rate. Patches put on his chest for the electrocardiogram were not taken off for the MRI. The lawsuit alleges the patches contained metal, and heated up during the MRI leaving the boy with permanent scars.
The lawsuit asserts that the imaging tech told the boy to be quiet when he repeatedly cried out in pain and requested the 20-minute procedure be stopped. The boy and his mother are asking for $30,000 in economic damages and $2 million for pain and suffering. According to the suit, the boy has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident.
Even at the best medical facilities, incidents such as the one in this case can happen at Oregon hospitals. In many cases, victims are able to file a medical malpractice claim against the negligent parties. This may include hospital staff members and the medical facility itself. After experiencing the trauma of medical malpractice, it is important for victims to know that they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.
Source: The Oregonian, “Vancouver teen sues Oregon Health & Science University, saying MRI left scars,” Nick Budnick, Mar. 15, 2013