Doctors and medical staff in the United States have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their patients at all times. Any failure to do so that results in a patient’s death could lead to the family of the victim seeking compensation for their losses through civil litigation.
Such a Tennessee Wrongful Death Lawsuit was successfully filed against a Knoxville hospital and its staff after a patient died as the result of negligent care. Reports indicate the family of the victim was awarded $3.25 million.
According to WATE 6 News, the victim suffered a blow to the head during a fall in her bathroom and went to the emergency room to be examined for a concussion. While tests showed she had not sustained a traumatic brain injury, medical staff determined the patient should stay overnight to be treated for dehydration.
As time went on, the victim’s condition continued to deteriorate, yet medical staff refused to call a doctor to examine her further—citing that no doctors were on call. The patient collapsed and died a short time later.
The girl’s family later filed a Tennessee wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital and the staff that treated her, claiming their negligence was directly responsible for their loss, and a jury agreed.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville personal injury lawyers know how difficult it can be to lose a loved one, which is why we are hopeful the decision that was reached in this case brings a sense of closure to the family of the young woman who tragically lost her life.