Medical Mistakes Can Lead to Tragic Loss of Life, Pt. 1

by James Lewis

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JIm is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

This is the first in a series of posts highlighting the ramifications of medical mistakes and negligence. The spotlight needs to be placed on the effects these errors have on people's lives since there was such a vilification of trial lawyers who routinely represent these victims and/or their loved ones in court. There was so much talk about money, but very little discussion about the impact medical malpractice has on everyday people.

The first case involves a 4-year-old girl from Scottsville, Virginia (VA). She was admitted to the University of Virginia Health Services Foundation to have a kidney removed. After the problematic kidney was taken out, the ureter from that kidney was re-attached to the remaining kidney.

While recuperating from the surgery in the hospital, urine began leaking into her abdomen from the re-attachment. This led to her belly swelling with fluid hindering her ability to breathe. Despite numerous calls to the surgical team from a nurse, the young girl was left struggling for her life for approximately 16 hours after the breathing problems were first noticed. As a result, she died from cardiac arrest, according to 9800reasons.org.

A 4-year-old girl is now dead and it appears this loss of life was due to the negligence of the doctors at Virginia Health Services Foundation. How can 16 hours go by without anyone taking action and fixing her breathing problems? It's a case of overlooking a patient in need. Now, a mother and father will have to live their life struggling with the loss of their child.

Fortunately, the parents of the 4-year-old victim are taking legal action and have filed suit against the doctors who failed to take the necessary steps to save their daughters life. Can anyone seriously call this a "junk lawsuit"? I don't think so.

Sadly, these types of preventable medical errors occur every day and they add up to 98,000 lives lost annually, according to the British Medical Journal.

More stories will be posted to remind people of how medical malpractice can lead to serious injuries, loss of life and devastated families.




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About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

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