Most families in Tennessee know what it’s like to suffer the loss of a loved one. Losing a beloved family member is quite possibly one of the hardest things to endure. Unfortunately, the trauma of losing a loved one can be magnified when their death was caused by medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice lawsuit
The death of a woman in another state may have been attributed to medical malpractice and her family filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit said the woman underwent a laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure at an Army hospital. According to allegations, surgeons cut a part of her small intestines during the procedure but reattached the small intestine backward. The lawsuit claimed this caused the woman to suffer a hernia which required emergency surgery three days later. During the emergency surgery, anesthetists allegedly damaged the woman’s lungs and she developed blood clots.
Allegedly, the machine used to remove blood clots was broken at the facility, so providers gave the woman clot-busting medication called tPA. The lawsuit asserted that this caused her to suffer micro-hemorrhages throughout her brain and eventually end up in a coma. Tragically, the woman passed away a month and a half after her initial surgery. Reportedly, the lawsuit was settled with the U.S. government paying the military family $9.5 million.
Help for victims and families
Unfortunately, negligence during surgery or medical treatment is responsible for killing and injuring thousands of people every year across the country. Those in Tennessee who have been affected by surgical errors or any form of medical malpractice can get help by speaking with a seasoned attorney. A successful claim could result in compensation and, in some cases, a sense of justice.