Personal Injury Law

Medical Malpractice Case Involving Flesh Eating Bacteria Results in $13.5 Million Jury Award

By Jeff Lowe, Esq.

A Hospitals failure to diagnose flesh-eating bacteria resulting in the death of the patient concluded with the patients family being awarded $13.5 million Boston Globe reports.

Amy Altman, a 40-year-old married mother of two young daughters, underwent experimental chemotherapy at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to treat a cancer tumor behind her knee. About two months after she began receiving chemotherapy every two weeks rather than the once every three weeks, she began experienced diarrhea. Her doctors dismissed it as a side effect of the treatment.

She was admitted to Brigham and Women?s hospital with extreme abdominal pain and could not urinate. She died two days later. An autopsy revealed that the diarrhea had been caused by the flesh-eating bacteria.

In making the award, the jury concluded that the woman?s death could have been prevented if her doctors had investigated the cause of her diarrhea.

We place great trust in those who providing medical care for our loved ones and us. It is unfortunate when they are negligent. It is tragic when such negligence results in serious injury or death. Fortunately, you have recourse. Medical malpractice insurance exists for a reason. If a caregiver harms you or your loved one, you are entitled to seek compensation. Jeffrey J. Lowe of The Lowe Law Firm has extensive experience representing clients on many medical malpractice issues.

Contact us immediately to learn more about your options.

Full post as published by Missouri Injury Lawyer Blog on November 07, 2008 (boomark / email).