Every day, thousands of people in need of medical attention visit doctors, surgeons and other health care providers. In Tennessee, most of these medical professionals are knowledgeable, well-educated, and highly skilled. However, doctors and nurses are also human and can make mistakes. Many people are unaware that medical malpractice is one of the top causes of injury and death in the United States.
Medical malpractice claim
In another state, a family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging that the negligence of a hospital’s staff caused a man’s death. Apparently, the man visited the hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and nausea and was discovered to have diabetic ketoacidosis. According to the lawsuit, a nurse was directed by the man’s doctor to put a catheter into the man’s external jugular vein.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts, the lawsuit said the catheter was placed incorrectly into an artery. The lawsuit claimed the hospital staff failed to recognize their error, which led to the man suffering from a stroke, a heart attack, paralysis and seizures before ultimately dying. Reportedly, the lawsuit was recently settled with the plaintiffs receiving a total compensation of $900,000.
Help is available
When patients go in for a procedure or seek medical treatment, they place their lives and trust in the hands of their medical providers. Unfortunately, when mistakes or negligence occur during treatment, patients and families suffer the consequences. Those in Tennessee who have suffered injuries or loss due to medical malpractice have the right to speak with an experienced attorney about their options for recourse. A successful claim could result in much-needed compensation to help ease the pain and suffering of victims and families.