Winning a medical malpractice case often brings plaintiffs more relief than most people realize. Not only is it a relief to see a hospital and its staff held accountable for a medical mistake that has been made, but winning the case means that litigation is over and the plaintiff can finally move on with their life.
But this sense of relief is short lived if the hospital or medical professional appeals the decision. It’s not just a problem for residents here in Arizona either, as you will soon see with a case out of Connecticut. In this particular case, the hospital that was sued is unhappy with the verdict and may consider an appeal. Whether this will leave the victim without compensation remains to be seen.
For those who may not have heard, a 65-year-old Connecticut woman was awarded $12 million in her medical malpractice case. She claimed that during a 2008 surgery, a surgical resident puncture her colon, which caused her to go into septic shock before suffering a heart attack and falling into a coma. She claimed the medical mistake left her with serious problems in her large intestine and she “continues to have abdominal problems that hinder her movement.”
Although the court agreed and awarded her $12 million in damages, reports indicate that the hospital is not happy with the judge’s decision. This could mean an appeal that could, depending on how the appeals court judge rules, reduce or eliminate the woman’s compensation.
So while the woman in this case might feel relieved that litigation is over for the time being, this might only be a temporary relief. More litigation could be in her future, which may require more help from a knowledgeable attorney. It’s a situation many of our readers hope won’t end badly for the victim.
Source: The Insurance Journal, “Connecticut Hospital Ordered to Pay $12M in Medical Malpractice Case,” Dave Collins, June 2, 2014