Medical facilities across Kentucky are well equipped to meet the needs of accident victims. However, when it comes to traumatic injuries, the single most important factor in determining the recovery of the victim is time. Those who suffer these types of injuries must be seen by a doctor as soon as possible or risk death. In another state, a medical malpractice lawsuit was filed by the family of a man who died at a hospital after allegedly waiting hours to see a surgeon.
According to the lawsuit, the man suffered a gun shot wound and was rushed to the hospital emergency room. The lawsuit said the man required immediate surgery due to the nature of his wounds. Allegedly, the man died two hours after first responders took him to the emergency room. Although the man was seen by an emergency room physician, the family claimed the man required surgery but was never seen by a surgeon.
The lawsuit alleged that the hospital paged the on-call surgeon, but the surgeon never showed up to perform the potentially life-saving surgery. The plaintiffs claimed the man’s death was the result of negligence and a failure to follow procedures for trauma patients. A jury sided with the plaintiffs and awarded them $30 million in the historic lawsuit.
Time may be the most critical factor in successful medical treatment. Without receiving timely treatment, victims of traumatic accidents have little chance at survival. Families in Kentucky who have been affected by medical malpractice may benefit from discussions with an attorney. Damages from a successful claim could help families recover any financial losses that occurred as a result of negligent care.