Jury Awards Georgia Mother Nearly $46 Million For Suffering Brain Damage Following Birth of Child
Serious injuries have the potential to cause significant brain damage that can leave a person partially or completely incapacitated. When catastrophic injures lead to severe brain damage, it can be devastating on loved ones who are caring for the injured person. Medical malpractice is something that occurs every day despite efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate this type of negligence. Patients entrust the expertise and qualifications of doctors to provide medical care and treatment that does not cause unnecessary harm. While many doctors provide excellent care and save lives, there are other doctors who have caused harm to patients as a result of negligent conduct.
Serious injuries have the potential to cause significant brain damage that can leave a person partially or completely incapacitated. When catastrophic injures lead to severe brain damage, it can be devastating on loved ones who are caring for the injured person. Medical malpractice is something that occurs every day despite efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate this type of negligence. Patients entrust the expertise and qualifications of doctors to provide medical care and treatment that does not cause unnecessary harm. While many doctors provide excellent care and save lives, there are other doctors who have caused harm to patients as a result of negligent conduct.
Mother Suffers Irreparable Brain Damage Three Days After Giving Birth
A Fulton County jury awarded a mother and her husband nearly $46 million for the pain and suffering allegedly caused by two obstetricians. After the mother had given birth to her child, her blood pressure remained high for three days. The mother was given IV drugs for two days, but the treatment was unsuccessful. On the third day, the mother complained of shortness of breath, and one of the obstetricians ordered a chest x-ray and an oxygen mask. One hour later, the mother’s blood pressure rose to 202/105. The mother was given more IV drugs that lowered her blood pressure to 151/79.
The was then taken to have a CT scan done. While in the radiology department, the woman went into cardiopulmonary arrest and she had to be resuscitated. Even though hospital staff members were able to resuscitate her, she was not given oxygen for more than 10 minutes, which caused hypoxic brain injury and total and complete disability. While we do not know all of the facts, the Fulton County jury believed the facts were sufficient to find that the two obstetricians that provided treatment to the mother were negligent and at fault for the mother’s significant brain injuries, as she should not have gone that long without oxygen.
$18 Million Verdict Awarded to Husband is Largest in Georgia State History
Because the mother is completely disabled and no longer able to physically or mentally care for herself, her husband must do so. This means the husband is working around the clock to ensure his wife’s daily needs are being met. The husband has suffered significantly as a result of his wife’s brain injuries. In addition to providing care for his wife, he can no longer have the same husband-wife relationship he had prior to his wife’s brain injury.
The Fulton County jury awarded $18 million to the husband for his pain and suffering based on what is called a “loss of consortium” claim. This means that the two spouses have been irreparably harmed because of another person’s negligent conduct. This $18 million award is the largest verdict awarded to a spouse based on a loss of consortium claim in Georgia state history.
This tragic story is unfortunately not the only instance of alleged medical malpractice in Georgia, and patients continue to suffer harm every day because of a healthcare provider’s negligent care and treatment. If you or a loved one have been seriously harmed and you think medical malpractice was involved, contact our attorneys at Montlick & Associates to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect your rights.
Contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation
With more than 39 years of experience, Montlick & Associates continues to provide legal representation to injured victims from all over Georgia, whether they suffered injuries from a car accident, workplace accident, or medical malpractice, among others. If you would like to learn more about what legal options may be available to you, contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law today by calling (800) LAW-NEED (529-6333) to schedule your free consultation with one of our Georgia Medical Malpractice Attorneys. You may also visit us online at www.montlick.com to complete a Free Case Evaluation Form, and you may also participate in a 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source: https://www.law360.com/articles/894740/jury-awards-45-8m-in-post-childbirth-brain-damage-case
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