The following blog entry is written to illustrate an example of a medical malpractice case. Reviewing this kind of lawsuit should help potential plaintiffs and clients better understand how parties in personal injury cases present such issues to the court. It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this medical malpractice case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco General, California Pacific Medical Center, or St. Francis Memorial Hospital.
(Please also note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this personal injury case and its proceedings.)
First, she created a large, 8-square-inch open wound on the foot of a diabetic patient, knowing that even tiny open wounds can quickly become infected. However, she failed to prescribe antibiotics to guard against such infection. Knowing the potential for infection, she took a culture of the wound, which she sent to the San Francisco Hospital lab.
Further, she tightly covered the open wound with multiple layers of gauze and elastic. Among other things, this made it impossible for the condition of the wound to be observed by the patient or anyone else. It also may have diminished plaintiff’s otherwise-healthy circulation in that foot.
Worst of all, she made no provision for frequent observation of the wound to monitor its status. She could have hospitalized plaintiff or could have arranged to have his wound checked either at her office or by another provider. By failing to provide for such observation, and, indeed, forbidding the patient to remove the elastic dressings, she prevented plaintiff’s infection from being discovered and remedied at a point in time when his leg could have been treated and saved. At some point between the 12th and the 16th, the foot became unsalvageable, but if it had been properly monitored, he could have been started on IV antibiotic treatment immediately upon observation of infection (if not before), and the leg could have been saved.
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.
CLAIMED INJURIES
According to Plaintiff: Below-knee amputation.
CLAIMED DAMAGES
According to Plaintiff: $200,000 medical.
SUMMARY:
Verdict/Judgment: Settlement
Verdict/Judgment Amount: $350,000
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.