Trust is the cornerstone of the patient-physician relationship. Patients place their well-being in the hands of medical professionals, expecting quality care, expertise, and compassion. Medical malpractice serves as a stark reminder of the fallibility of human practice in medicine. When healthcare providers fail to meet the expected standards of care, the repercussions can be severe, resulting in significant harm, long-term injury, or even loss of life. These cases impact the individuals as well as their families, friends, and loved ones.
In this blog, we will explore two recent and shocking medical malpractice cases, examining the circumstances that led to these unfortunate events. These stories help to shed light on the importance of vigilance, accountability, and continuous improvement in healthcare practices to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Infant injury case: A tragic start
Few cases are more heartbreaking than those involving infants. This case begins with an infant born with a leak in his esophagus and other, non-life-threatening conditions. The parents provided evidence that the surgeon was negligent in performing 25 surgical procedures on the infant. These procedures included the use of a stent to fix the leak, an unproven method, as well as the off-label, inappropriate use of a suturing device. During this later procedure, the surgeon punctured the infant’s pulmonary artery resulting in serious brain damage and cerebral palsy. The child will require a lifetime of medical care and assistance due to these injuries.
The family settled the claim for $30 million, making this one of the largest payments in Illinois for a medical malpractice lawsuit involving a child.
Missed symptoms: Surgical recovery and blood loss
In this example, the family of a mother of four held a plastic surgeon accountable after he failed to check in on the patient during recovery from a surgical procedure. The woman’s family argues that the plastic surgeon’s failure to check in on the patient meant that he missed signs of internal bleeding. After hours in the recovery room, her bleeding became unmanageable. She was transferred to a local hospital and died as a result of injuries sustained during the procedure.
The court awarded the family $66 million.
Takeaway lesson: The importance of accountability
These cases illustrate the potential for legal action to provide families with much needed compensation after the loss or serious injury to a loved one, as well as the ability of these claims to drive systemic changes in healthcare practices. Patients must advocate for their health, and holding negligent providers accountable helps to discourage others from making the same mistake — ultimately increasing the safety of the healthcare system in the Chicago area.