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Medical Mistake in Rehabilitation Center Causes Death in Elderly Woman

In February of 2008, a 97 year old resident of a Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA) rehabilitation home was accidentally injected with insulin. Upon discovering her unconscious they rushed her to Sentara Leigh Hospital where they attempted to revive the victim. However, the stomach injection proved fatal and she died that day. The autopsy revealed a state of hypoglycemic encephalopathy. Her daughter and three grandchildren were left in despair.

The defense argued that because of her age, she had no real life expectancy left given her prior health issues. However, the attorney for the victim’s family argued that she could fulfill many everyday tasks around the house. The decedent was also able to handle her affairs and had a fairly high quality of life. This was all before she moved to the rehabilitation home from her daughter’s home. The insurer settled the case awarding $275,000 to the family and $5,751 for the funeral expenses. This is such a tragic story and we hate to see events like these happen to the elderly when retirement homes, nursing homes, and rehabilitation homes are careless. I hope this facility learned to be more careful in administering medication to its residents.

This recent real case shows a lot about medical errors and the legal system. The health care system causes about 200,000 deaths a year according to a recent study. These are preventable acts of negligence killing patients. Many more are injured but do not die. The situation in nursing homes is especially bad because they are often understaffed when they are run by corporations which put profit over people.

The insurance companies who defend these cases of neglector malpractice make some sick arguments to get out of paying the family for the harms their insured doctors or staff commit. The lawyer for the at-fault health care provider in this case essentially said, “your mother was so old that her dying is not worth much.” This “so what” defense is standard fare in medical malpractice.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.

How should you locate the best, top injury lawyer for your case?

Our Injury Lawyers Have Been Selected For Many Achievements Outlined Below:


Several  Injury Attorneys With Our Firm have been included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition (Lewis-Injury Law, Shapiro-Railroad Injury Law) and been Named As Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law  (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009 Ed.)(Less than 5% of Outstanding Lawyers are Chosen); also selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009); named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Virginia by ATLA (Shapiro - 2009), and our law firm was the first Injury Law Firm in Virginia Invited to Join Primerus, a select group of Highly Ethical, Respected Law Firms .

In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained, what was then, the
largest record verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person (46 Million Dollar Verdict, with Interest, 60 Million Dollars, Settled confidentially during appeal).  Click on icons for more details.

 

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Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.

As to Virginia (VA), this includes: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond (entire area), Petersburg, Roanoke/Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, all areas of the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island, Ashland, Big Stone Gap and any other city/ounty.

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