New York Woman Wins $120 Million In Hospital Negligence Lawsuit
In 2004, Ms. Jacqueline Martin went to the hospital seeking treatment for a seizure. After a series of hospital visits, in which healthcare professionals allegedly failed to treat her appropriately, she suffered brain damage. Her mother sought out the advice of a medical malpractice lawyer in NY, and filed a doctor negligence lawsuit against three separate hospitals.
In May 2012, a New York State Supreme Court jury concluded that Ms. Martin had been a victim of hospital negligence, and awarded her $120 million in damages. The verdict is considered among the largest medical malpractice awards ever made in New York. The city planned to appeal.
Plaintiff claims severe skin disease in doctor negligence lawsuit
According to court documents, Ms. Martin’s mother sought a medical malpractice settlement in NYC, or a jury award, to compensate Ms. Martin for the pain and suffering she has endured because of her inappropriate treatment. Ms. Martin’s lawyer relayed the facts of the case in the complaint, stating that Ms. Martin went to the hospital because of a seizure. She was given medication that caused a severe allergic reaction, creating swelling in her face, eyes and throat.
Ms. Martin was later diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and severe skin disorder. According to the Skin Association, the syndrome is a potentially deadly skin disease that usually results from a drug reaction.
The condition has been linked to some anticonvulsant medications, and can cause flu-like symptoms, a red rash that can spread to various parts of the body, blisters, peeling, hair and nail loss, and fever. It can leave the skin looking as if it has been burned, and the wounded areas may quickly become infected. Survival of the patient depends on the level of damage and the degree of infection.
The Mayo Clinic notes that complications of Stevens-Johnson syndrome may include sepsis (life-threatening condition), eye inflammation and blindness, damage to internal organs, and permanent skin damage. Infections can also lead to meningitis—an infection of the membrane and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Medical malpractice lawyer in NY claims hospital negligence
The medical malpractice lawyer in NY who was handling Ms. Martin’s case claimed that over the course of less than a month, medical personnel mismanaged the plaintiff’s medications, failed to respond in a timely manner to crises, and failed to provide essential treatments.
The jury allocated responsibility for the verdict to all three hospitals where Ms. Martin was treated:
- 50 percent to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx
- 40 percent to Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn
- 5 percent to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center
- 4 percent to one of its neurologists
Seeking a medical malpractice settlement in NYC, or jury award
There are other examples of juries awarding plaintiffs significant verdicts in cases of hospital negligence. The family of a 60-year-old Korean immigrant, for example, who died after a New York Hospital in Queens delayed his operation, sought a medical malpractice settlement in NYC, or jury award. They received $7.6 million from a Queens jury in April 2012.
Each year, hospital negligence results in thousands of patients being unnecessarily injured. Failure to order the necessary tests, prescribing unsafe medication, performing surgical errors, and more can result in life-changing injuries and even death.
Medical malpractice lawyer in NY can help
Though mistakes can happen, and patients may not like the idea of blaming their doctors, hospital negligence happens every day, and it’s not fair for you and your family to have to live with the consequences for the rest of your lives.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured because of hospital negligence, contact a medical malpractice lawyer in NY at The Sanders Firm today. We have decades of experience in handling doctor negligence lawsuits, and have won settlements and verdicts for our clients. We have the resources to present the best possible case on your behalf, and we charge you nothing unless we win your case. Call today for a free initial consultation at 800-FAIR PLAY. Resources
- Woman Wins Malpractice Suit Against Three City Hospitals, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/nyregion/woman-wins-malpractice-suit-against-three-city-hospitals.html?
- Medical Malpractice: Broken Beyond Repair? http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2013/02/06/
