Patients are forced to blindly trust their doctors and the hospital staff who care for them. The state of health care today often dictates that patients have little if any choice in which doctors they see. Patients are at a distinct disadvantage because they do not have the knowledge that their medical professionals maintain. So, when a medical mistake occurs, the patients and their families are entitled to an explanation. When a hospital or doctor did something they should not have done or failed to do something they should have done and injury results, it constitutes medical malpractice. Physicians and hospitals are held accountable for their mistakes and/or misconduct. Medical negligence cases provide patients and their families with answers and accountability when the medical professionals fail to do so and serve compensate the victims for the consequences of the medical professionals mistakes.

If you wish to read more about the basis for Medical Malpractice cases click articles below.

Practical Articals

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

PATIENTS ARE ENTITLED TO MINIMALLY ADEQUATE TREATMENT IN STATE HOSPITALS

In The News

JURY AWARDS $500,000 IN SUIT VS HOSPITAL MAN DIED HAVING SURGURY AT MEDCENTRAL/MANSFIELD

Medical Malpractice Cases

2003 Estate of John Doe v. Jane Doe, M.D.

Plaintiff was a 62-year-old man who developed changes in bowel habits, recurring bouts of constipation and diarrhea, loss of weight, vomiting and eventually presented with blood in his stool. Plaintiff’s family physician treated these conditions for over 20 months without ordering appropriate or timely diagnostic evaluation of Plaintiff’s colon via colonoscopy. While driving his truck at work, Plaintiff’s colon ruptured from a colonic tumor. Emergency surgery was performed but the cancer had spread. Plaintiff underwent unsuccessful chemotherapy treatment over four months and then died. Plaintiff’s estate claimed Defendant failed to timely diagnose and treat decedent’s colon cancer resulting in spread of disease and death. He was survived by his wife of 26 years, five daughters and three stepchildren.

Settlement

2002 Andrea Kmetz, Admin. for Estate of Jay Kmetz v. MedCentral Health Systems

Jay Kmetz underwent anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACD&F) on 3/10/98 at Mansfield Hospital. Over the next twelve hours, Jay experienced post-operative complications, eventually leading to complaints of inability to breath and swallow. The nurse did not find objective complaints, but failed to obtain a medical consult. At 2:35 a.m. on 3/11/98, Jay Kmetz suffered a respiratory arrest, leading to cardiac arrest, brain damage and death. The family declined an autopsy and the cause of death remained in dispute. Plaintiff presented no economic loss and proceeded to trial on Decedent's pain and suffering and losses to the five surviving adult siblings and parents.

Jury Verdict

1997 Thomas Ortman, et al. v. John Doe, M.D., et. al.

Plaintiff, a 37 year old man was diagnosed with testicular seminoma Stage I causing the removal of his right testicle. After completing post surgical radiation treatments, he was discharged with a clean bill of health from his physician's care. Five months later, Plaintiff experienced severe pain in his low back and abdomen causing him to return to the emergency room. At that time, he was diagnosed with a mixed germ cell tumor, with masses around his kidneys and in the muscle areas surrounding his kidneys. Plaintiffs alleged that the Defendants failed to diagnose the mixed germ cell tumor, misread the original pathology findings and discharged the patient without appropriate follow up care. This resulted in the spread of cancer causing Mr. Ortman to undergo additional chemotherapy treatments and 19 unnecessary radiation treatments. As of resolution to this claim, Plaintiff had recovered and was cancer free.

Settlement

1997 Ralph DePolo, et al. v. John G. Pasalis, M.D.

Plaintiff was a 67 year old-man who presented to the Defendant urologist on referral from his general physician for concerns related to microscopic blood in his urine. Plaintiff also had a urinary tract infection and hesitation in his stream of urine. Defendant preformed numerous tests to screen the prostate, but neglected to pay attention to the results of an IVP film which indicated a suspicious area in the bladder. Plaintiff was next seen by the Defendant one year later on follow up with gross blood in his urine. The Defendant treated the prostate, but ignored the bladder over the course of the next six months. Plaintiff sought a second opinion and was diagnosed with a huge bladder tumor. Eventually, his bladder was removed and he was left with a stoma and an external pouch for urine retention.

Jury Verdict

1997 John Doe v. ABC Hospital and physicians

Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital emergency room with complaints of stomach pains. He was diagnosed with gall stones and stabilized. Two days later, the treating surgeon recommended gall bladder surgery. Plaintiff was not a candidate for a surgical procedure because of other health concerns including hypertension, cardiomegaly, sleep apnea, morbid obesity and a history of psychiatric treatment. The patient underwent the procedure and during the reversal from anesthesia, he suffered a hypoxic injury leaving him in a comatosed state. He has remained in a coma since 1994.

Settlement

1996 The Estate of Robert Mills v. United States of America

Plaintiff alleged medical negligence when a 57 year old male presented to Wright Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center for treatment of a progressive sore throat. Plaintiff’s decedent sat in the emergency room for over 1 hour before being seen and then after consultation with a physician, sat for two additional hours before going into full respiratory arrest. Defendants contended that arrest was sudden and not clinically foreseeable. Decedent was diagnosed with epiglotittis, a viral condition causing swelling of the epiglottis. Subsequent creation of an airway was untimely and resulted in hypoxia, shock lung, eventual ARDS, multi system failure and death.

Settlement

1995 John Doe, et al. v. John Doe, D.C., D.M.

Plaintiff suffered a stroke while under the treatment and care of Defendant Chiropractor at his natural health institute while on a supervised therapeutic fast. Plaintiff suffered partial left-sided paralysis as a result of the stroke.

Settlement

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