Eugene residents seek emergency medical care on a daily basis. Due to the nature of the injury or medical condition, emergency medical treatment often requires extra patient care and attention. Most patients never contemplate being subjected to injuries or deaths due to the mistakes of their emergency medical providers. However, medical mistakes in an emergency room can often prove to be deadly for unsuspecting patients.
This was the tragic set of circumstances for a 47-year-old nurse who passed away after seeking treatment at a hospital emergency room. She sought treatment at the ER for severe abdominal and back pain. The nurse died the next day from a bowel obstruction. She had undergone a gastric bypass surgery two years prior, and bowel obstruction is a well-known complication.
After her death, her family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of her estate. The defendants included the ER doctor and the medical group that employed him. A trial began in November and the jury recently reached a verdict. They entered a $2.4 million judgment in favor of the victim’s estate. A statement from the victim’s husband said he is thankful for the verdict and hopes his wife’s death will bring attention to medical malpractice deaths.
Although no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, a successful malpractice lawsuit can provide financial compensation for the victim’s family. Wrongful death is one of many legal theories that can be set forth in malpractice claims. Family members of victims injured or killed due to a medical mistake can contact an Oregon medical malpractice attorney to learn more about their legal rights.
Source: www.BND.com, “Jury awards multi-million dollar verdict in medical malpractice case,” Beth Hundsdorfer, Nov. 21, 2013