Colorado residents may be interested in a recent medical malpractice case in which a radiologist was ruled at fault in a misdiagnosis that resulted in a stroke that left a woman partially disabled. Her family was awarded $5 million in a verdict against the doctor.
The radiologist was working for a diagnostic imaging center in August of 2007 when a woman came to the emergency room with a severe headache that had lasted for some time. She was given a CT scan which was read by the radiologist. The radiologist stated that she found no significant issues from the CT scan. The woman was eventually transferred to another hospital when her symptoms did not improve, and there she was diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhaging. Upon examining the original CT scan, doctors at the second hospital concluded that the scans showed significant problems, and that if the woman had been treated then, much of the damage she sustained would have been prevented.
The victim is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitative therapy after brain surgery to recover the physical and mental skills she used to posses. She will also likely have a high risk of harm if she becomes pregnant.
As this tragic case shows, a misdiagnosis can have life-altering consequences. Victims who have sustained injuries, whether they are physical or emotional, are sometimes entitled to compensation for many aspects of their cases, including medical bills, costs of living, loss of mobility or mental ability, and pain and suffering. Speaking to an experienced medical malpractice attorney may be beneficial.
Source: Seacoast Online, “Couple awarded $5m in medical malpractice suit,” Aaron Sanborn, Nov. 20, 2012