Vermont Personal Injury Lawyer - Medical Malpractice

Actor Angry Over Hospital Error

Rob Curtiss — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:11:32 GMT

Film actor Dennis Quaid and his wife have expressed their outrage over the treatment their newborn twins have received at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. A report from the California Department of Public Health confirms that the couple's babies each received a dosage of Heparin that was 2,000 times stronger than the prescribed dose. Heparin is a high risk drug used as a blood thinner.

Among the Quaids' expressed concerns was the "lack of candor" the hospital exhibited regarding the medical error. Evidently, the couple learned of the mistake through the Department of Health rather than the medical facility. The Quaids have also sued the manufacturers of the drug citing negligent packaging of different doses in similar appearing vials. For more on this story please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ywtq6u.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rob Curtiss

Harvard Study Finds Malpractice Suits Not Frivolous

Ed Van Dorn — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:55:06 GMT

Contrary to what the insurance industry, the medical industry and the Bush Administration would have you believe about so-called :"frivolous lawsuits" , a study by the Harvard School of Public Health found just the opposite.

This prestigious institution dedicated to improving the pubic health through learning, investigation and communication studied a random sampling of 1,452 closed medical malpractice claims from across the country.

Specifically the study carried out by HSPH and the equally prestigious Brigham and Women's Hospital concluded that 90% of the claims involved serious physical injury leading to permanant disability or death. The study concluded that the medical malpractice justice system in the United States is not sick and doesn't need treatment.

The Study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine for all to see, but yet the clamor of a select group of politicians is still strong for "reform of frivolous lawsuits". How can this be in the face of the Harvard study and ohter similar studies with the same results? Follow the money in the form of campaign contributions from the insurance and medical industries and see which politicians are clamoring. The said fact is that even the White House is for sale at the right price, and if the President and those of his ilk get what they want, that price is ultimately paid by medical malpractice victims.

We are a medical malpractic law firm and have seen too often, first hand the tragedy and suffering of medical malpractice victims and their families and the hoops they have to jump through to get relief. I shouldn't be more difficult than it already is. Urge your legislators every chance you get to preserve the rights of medical malpractice victims to the relief our justice system provides.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Van Dorn

Vermont Judge Awards 21 Million Dollars to Injury Victim(2)

Rob Curtiss — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:37:08 GMT

Last week, Vermont Superior Court Judge, Teresa DiMauro, awarded almost 21 million dollars to a young man who was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of an automobile accident. Ralph Currier, now 21 was awarded 1 million dollars for past medical care, fifteen million dollars for future medical care, 1 million dollars for lost wages and five million dollars for pain and suffering.

Obviously, no amount of money can compensate this young man for having to be dependent on others for the rest of his life. However, the verdict does exhibit an attempt by the court to award fair justice and to bring Vermont verdicts in line with national verdicts for similar injuries. For more information see the following site:

http://rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070901/NEWS01/709010357/0/FEATURES08

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rob Curtiss

Malpractice Involving Back Surgery

Rob Curtiss — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:40:36 GMT

Anyone who has undergone back surgery knows it is a serious operation with major risks even if it is performed properly. When back surgery is performed improperly or negligently it can have devastating consequences including irreversible nerve damage.

I have represented clients who have been permanently injured as a result of negligently preformed back surgery and have witnessed firsthand the impact this malpractice has had on their lives. So, if you are contemplating elective back surgery for any reason make sure to choose the right surgeon.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rob Curtiss

Doctor Loses $1.1M Malpractice Lawsuit

Christina Cole — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:22:27 GMT

A jury in U.S. District Court granted a $1,160,000 judgment against a doctor in a medical malpractice case on Monday.

Bookwalter, a Brattleboro surgeon, was proved to be negligent in the treatment of a patient in 2001.

According to the original complaint filed, Bookwalter began treating the man in 1987 after he was injured in a lawnmower rollover. He was under Bookwalter's care until 2001.

In June 2001 he was referred back to Bookwalter for burns on his foot. Olanyk apparently suffered a burn to his left toe by a heating pad and didn't realize it.

Legal documents show Bookwalter saw the burn and made a notation in his chart "this could be very threatening - the foot is at risk of infection."

Olanyk allegedly saw Bookwalter several times before he collapsed at his home on July 13, 2001, and was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, then to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.
His left leg was then amputated below the knee. The lawsuit faults Bookwalter for the amputation and after-effects.

"Our allegation was that he should have been sent to a burn doctor," Lesser said. "Instead, a conservative treatment was followed."
The five-day trial culminated in five hours of deliberation on Monday, Lesser said. The jury could not reach a verdict at that time, and Judge J. Garvan Murtha requested they resume deliberations. Lesser said. Two hours later, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict in Olanyk's favor, Lesser said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole