Illinois readers may be shocked by the years of suffering a man from another state had to endure as a result of the incompetence of a physician. A jury recently awarded $9.1 million to the victim who lost his leg as a result of surgical complications. Compounding the trauma of losing his leg, the patient had to undergo 12 surgical procedures before eventually losing his leg.
It all started when a man who is now 45 years old sustained a broken ankle after a fall in 2004. A physician treated the injury, but after suffering constant pain in the region of his little toe, the injured man decided to consult another doctor. It was explained that the pain was the consequence of a nerve disorder brought about by the fractured ankle. Several surgical procedures had followed before the doctor decided to amputate the small toe.
Infection developed after the surgery and the doctor decided to amputate the next toe. By July 2009, the pain in the foot had not subsided, and the doctor decided to amputate the man’s leg just below the knee. As before, infection set in after the surgery, and within three months another doctor amputated the rest of his leg.
Following these unfortunate events, the man became disabled and lost his job. Furthermore, he got divorced and now lives a distance away from his ex- wife and his child. The money awarded by the jury was for previous and future pain and suffering, along with medical expenses and loss of income. Residents of Illinois may want to take note that, in cases of surgical complications resulting from medical malpractice, they may have the right to file a claim in a court of law. Compensation awarded after a successfully litigated case may serve to assist in financial obligations incurred as a result of the incident.
Source: The Buffalo News, Former Tonawanda dispatcher awarded $9.1 million in medical malpractice suit, James Staas, Feb. 17, 2014
