Paralyzed woman awarded $18 million in malpractice case

It is unfortunate when a patient suffers injuries while under a doctor’s care, and there can be a wide variety of contributing factors. These injuries can often result in malpractice suits. Some Louisiana residents may know someone who has been injured while staying at a hospital and has chosen to file a lawsuit. A woman was recently awarded $18 million after hospital negligence resulted in the paralysis of her legs.

The woman was admitted to the hospital in July of 2014 after going to the Chandler Hospital emergency room seeking treatment for an illness. While she was in the hospital, the patient developed a severe central nervous system infection. She was later transferred to and discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital, but she was permanently disabled.

After being in the hospital for several days, the patient was transferred to a different floor. She complained to nurses that she was unable to move her legs. Unfortunately, they did not take the complaint seriously. Doctors claimed that their treatments complied with standard care because the woman did not tell hospital staff about any pain at the sight of the infection.

The infection eventually resulted in the paralysis of the patient’s legs, and she continues to receive treatment and rehab as an outpatient. In her lawsuit, the patient claims that the doctors failed to provide a diagnosis and treatment in a timely fashion. She also claims that the nursing staff was unable to provide the necessary care that she needed.

Patient injuries are not always the result of a physical trauma. Sometimes, they occur over time from a lack of treatment or improper treatment. Louisiana residents who wish to discuss filing a malpractice lawsuit may wish to contact an attorney in their area.

Source: savannahnow.com, “Jury awards Savannah woman $18 million in medical malpractice“, Jan Skutch, March 8, 2018