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$11.3 million awarded to family because of a failure to diagnose

October 16th, 2017

$11.3 million awarded to family because of a failure to diagnose

On behalf of David Bowling of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation posted in Medical Malpractice on Monday, October 16, 2017.

Illness and injury are never far from most Louisiana parents’ minds. Especially in the early years of a child’s life, parents may often rely on doctors’ knowledge and advice to ensure that their child remains in good health. Therefore, a doctor’s failure to diagnose a serious illness has the potential to be a source of great stress and hardship for parents.

One mother was awarded $11.3 million in damages because a series of doctors failed to diagnose her 11-month-old son with meningitis. The hospital in question has recently attempted to appeal this ruling by claiming that the award was excessive. However, courts have refused to hear the appeal, and the verdict stands.

The boy’s mother reported that her son was taken to the hospital emergency room on multiple occasions in Dec. 2009. During these visits, the boy was reportedly misdiagnosed. As a result of this, the boy’s meningitis went untreated for too long. The boy lost his hearing and is unable to speak because of the brain damage he suffered during his illness. Experts testified that if the child had been diagnosed earlier, then his hearing and ability to speak might not have been affected by the illness.

No parent wishes to hear that his or her child has a severe illness. However, a doctor’s failure to diagnose these illnesses early can be the cause of an even greater stress for an entire family. Individuals or families living in Louisiana who believe that they might be victims of medical malpractice may consider consulting a local professional. Seeking the advice of an attorney may help possible victims to determine if a lawsuit is warranted and what compensation they may be entitled to.

Source: pennlive.com, “Pa. Supreme Court rejects children’s hospital’s appeal of $11.3M medical malpractice verdict“, Matt Miller, Oct. 11, 2017

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