A colon polypectomy is a relatively common surgical procedure many Maryland residents and others around the nation have undergone. Physicians elect to remove polyps from patients’ colons to prevent them from becoming cancerous or to alleviate symptoms that may be occurring. The procedure itself is performed quickly, and there is a fairly short recovery time if everything goes as planned. However, severe complications may arise if the surgery is not done properly. The family members of a woman who died following a colon polypectomy recently received a $13 million award in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
In 2011, a 43-year-old woman had a surgical procedure to remove a polyp from her colon. Following the surgery, the woman experienced several pain and was prescribed potent pain medication. Her physician failed to order a CAT scan until four days had passed, according to court documents. At that time, it was discovered that the physician had burned part of the woman’s bowel. The woman died as a result of septic shock and severe infection before she could undergo another surgery.
The woman’s husband, a New Jersey police officer, filed the lawsuit in 2012 against the physician. A jury in Manhattan reached a decision in less than one day to award the $13 million to the victim’s family. Reportedly, each of the woman’s children will receive $3 million each and the rest will go to her husband.
When a tragic death occurs due to the negligence of a physician or other health care providers, family members may choose to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. While no amount of money can bring back the lost loved one, a favorable outcome in a lawsuit can provide a monetary judgment for financial losses as well as for pain and suffering and other documented losses. A Maryland personal injury attorney can assist families throughout the legal process.
