21 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT - UNNECESSARY BRAIN SURGERY

Earlier this year a jury awarded $21 million dollars

 in a case of unnecessary brain surgery. 

It wasn't supposed to be brain surgery!

FACTS – The patient was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a temporomandibular joint problem. She underwent a CT scan of her brain and was told that she required an emergency craniotomy. During the surgery, it was discovered that the patient did not have a subdural hematoma or skull fracture, the conditions justifying emergency surgery.

After the unnecessary surgery the patient’s condition deteriorated after the procedure, requiring life support. She later died and is survived by her husband and three (3) adult children.

Initially, the hospital denied all responsibility. The patient’s estate sued the hospital, alleging unnecessary surgery in that the defendant relied on another patient’s CT scan results in recommending the emergency surgery. Two (2) years later, the defendant admitted that they had operated on the wrong patient, but, told the jury, at trial, that they had done no harm to her, although it admitted operating on the wrong patient.

How the jury determined its $21-million award:

• $300,000 for medical and funeral expenses

• $13 million for damages for pain and suffering

• $4.5 million for damages suffered by next of kin.

• $2.2 million for damages to be suffered in future by next of kin.

(Plus $1 million for interest and other expenses)

______________________________________

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, 

call us 24/7 for a FREE confidential case evaluation.

1 - 888 - 392 - LAWS (5297)

.

TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

www.trippfirm.com

LASER HAIR REMOVAL - Study finds laser hair-removal procedures by non-physicians may pose risks.

In a recent article in The New York Times, it was reported on the risks posed by laser hair-removal procedures by non-physician operators (NPOs). If the treatments are “performed improperly, they can cause disfiguring injuries and severe burns in sensitive areas, like the bikini line and the mustache area above the lips, and, rarely, even death.” 

According to a study published Oct. 16 in JAMA Dermatology, “the percentage of lawsuits over laser surgery that involved a non-physician operator rose to 78 percent in 2011 from 36 percent in 2008.”  The study concludes that “physicians ... should be aware of their state laws, especially in regard to physician supervision of NPOs.”

ALWAYS be sure to use practitioners that are properly trained and properly supervised, if the procedures are not done by a licensed physician.

Please contact us at (888) 398-LAWS (5297) for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION and important information regarding your legal rights.

TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law

www.trippfirm.com  

STANDING UP FOR SENIORS | NURSING HOME | Civil suits uncover abuses at nursing homes | American Association for Justice

NATIONAL - In a recent blog at LawyersUSA (10/8), Kimberly Atkins wrote, "Civil suits help uncover abuses by nursing home and insurance companies, according to a new report by the American Association for Justice. Where regulatory and legislative bodies have been unable to cope with this distressing rise of neglect and abuse of our elderly, the civil justice system has stepped into the breach,"

'Standing Up For Seniors: How the Civil Justice System Protects Elderly Americans - The report "outlines how, through litigation, trial attorneys across the country have uncovered evidence of corporate programs aimed at terminating seniors' benefits as well as evidence of nursing home abuse and neglect."

The report covers the following topics:

• Chemical Restraints
• Forced Arbitration
• Insurance Denials
• Neglect
• Bed Rail Deaths
• Scams
• Abuse
• Medical Errors

 To read the entire report click on the link: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xbcr/justice/StandingUpForSeniors.pdf

JURY VERDICT $2.35 MILLION | Medical Negligence lawsuit | Misdiagnosis

NATIONAL - Recently a woman was awarded $2.35 million in damages after doctors at a hospital "misdiagnosed a kidney blockage, leading to an infection that had spread through her body. As a result of this misdiagnosis, part of one leg and part of one foot would have to be amputated."

Medical Malpractice | Fact or Fiction? | Doctor negligence

According to The Medical Malpractice Myth, by Tom Baker, Director of the Insurance Law Center at University of Connecticut, his book provides research to dispute these claims with facts.  The book provides research proving the following:

• Medical malpractice is an epidemic that causes thousands of deaths a year
• Medical malpractice suits are rare, and are very rarely frivolous
• Malpractice insurance premiums aren't impossibly high
• Rising insurance costs are not closely related to litigation
• Doctors are not leaving their practices

www.trippfirm.com       TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

1 Million Medicare Patients Experience Medical Errors <> Medical Negligence

Nearly one million patient safety incidents occurred among Medicare patients in 2009. This figure almost matches what happened in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.

According to HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization, errors cost the federal Medicare program nearly $8.9 billion and resulted in 96,402 potentially preventable deaths from 2006 through 2008. Medicare patients who experienced one or more of the 15 patient safety events had approximately a one-in-10 chance of dying as a result of an event.

Patients at hospitals in the top 5 percent experienced 43 percent fewer patient safety incidents, on average, compared to poorly performing hospitals. If all hospitals performed at this level, 218,572 patient safety incidents and 22,590 deaths could potentially have been avoided, saving $2.0 billion from 2006 through 2008.

TO READ A FULL COPY OF THE REPORT CLICK ON THE LINK:

http://www.healthgrades.com/research

www.trippfirm.com         TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

PUT PATIENTS FIRST - 98,000 reasons why - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Accordiing to the Institute of Medicine, 98,000 people die every year from preventable medical errors - and this number doesn't include those seriously injured.  This is the sixth leading cause of death in America, equivalent to two 737's crashing every day.

Trial attorneys see first-hand the effects medical errors have on patients and their families.  The best way to have fewer medical malpractice cases is to reduce the number of medical errors.  If less people need to seek legal recourse, that means patients are getting safer.  Patients that are safer also means lower costs to the health care system. 

Everyone can support this.

TO READ and SEE MORE CLICK - www.98000reasons.org

www.trippfirm.com         TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

WARNING - Medical Malpractice Victims: Your Rights are in Danger

Insurance companies, the American Medical Association and other powerful interests say that our health care system is in crisis because of a rising tide of medical malpractice claims.

Their solution is to put a “cap” on the amount innocent victims of medical malpractice can recover for their injuries. In fact, “caps” are not the answer and lawsuits are not the problem.

TO READ MORE - Click on the link below:
http://www.peopleoverprofits.org/atf/cf/%7B91064AD8-9EF3-4D77-B05D-785502AA3D6F%7D/warningmedmal.pdf

http://www.trippfirm.com/   TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

Did LIDOCAINE used in a liposuction procedure cause the death of Florida woman?

A Florida woman died after liposuction procedure.  The death may have been caused by a bad reaction to lidocaine given during the liposuction procedure.

Apparently the lidocaine given during the surgery caused her to have a seizure and cardiac arrest, plunging her into a coma that left her brain dead. The thirty-seven year old woman was on life support two weeks.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of death.

Florida Supreme Court says hospitals must warn patients about medical malpractice limits.

STATEWIDE - The AP (1/14) reported, "The Florida Supreme Court says hospitals must warn patients about a state law that bars malpractice lawsuits for birth-related neurological injuries." Patients who receive proper notification "cannot sue but receive limited no-fault compensation if something goes wrong." But, "the justices Thursday ruled hospitals that fail to do so can then be sued even if a patient's doctor provided a notice required by a law designed to reduce malpractice cases against obstetricians."

$11.1 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT awarded by Pinellas County jury against All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - After deliberating for three (3) full days the jury delivered an $11.1 million dollar verdict in a medical malpractice case that could cost the hospital up to $8.7 million dollars.

The verdict will likely be appealed as a spokesman for All Children's Hospital pointed out that the hospital "was found only partially responsible."