A Look Back at Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Cases

Johns Hopkins Hospital calls medical malpractice the leading cause of death in the United States, just behind cancer and heart diseases. Despite the best efforts of hospitals and doctors, medical malpractice remains a major concern.

This article will discuss various well-known cases of medical malpractice lawsuits. By doing so, we aim to emphasize the significance of receiving adequate medical treatment and the potential legal aftermaths of malpractice.

What’s the First Record of Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice lawsuits have a long history, dating back to an incident in 1164 England known as Everad v. Hoskins. In this case, a physician was sued for administering harmful medicine to both a master and a servant.

Stratton v. Swanlond: One of the First True Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

A medical malpractice lawsuit called Stratton v. Swanlond took place in 1374. Agnes of Stratton and her husband sued surgeon John Swanlond because he had not fully repaired Agnes’ disfigured hand after the surgery, despite promising to do so. Although the case was dismissed due to filing errors, it established standards for the level of care that should be provided by doctors to their patients.

The First Medical Malpractice Case in the United States

Fast-forward to 1794, the United States witnessed its first medical malpractice case. The plaintiff accused a doctor of not fulfilling his promise of performing a safe and expert operation on his wife, which resulted in her death during the procedure. The plaintiff was awarded £40 after winning the case.

Highest Amount Paid for Medical Malpractice in the United States

The number of medical malpractice cases has gone down, but the amount of money paid out in settlements has increased significantly, especially in recent years. Below are some of the most substantial payouts for malpractice in the United States.

Allan Navarro v. Mercy Hospital and Dr. Abraham Dachman

In 2000, Allan Navarro showed symptoms of a stroke and went to the ER. Due to doctors misdiagnosing his symptoms, he was left with brain damage and confined to a wheelchair. A Florida jury awarded him a settlement of over $216 million, with more than $100 million being punitive damages. This settlement is considered to be one of the largest in recent history.

Despite informing the nurses about his family’s history of strokes, the doctors only gave him painkillers and diagnosed him with sinusitis. Navarro required an operation the next day to prevent brain swelling, which led to him being in a coma for almost three months. As a result, Navarro now has limited cognitive abilities and a higher risk of choking when eating due to his injury.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, was surprising and tragic. A post-mortem report revealed that he had traces of various medications in his system, including Propofol - a potent anesthetic generally used during surgeries.

Propofol is a very strong medication and can cause numerous side effects requiring close monitoring by a team of doctors. After investigating, it was discovered that Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Michael Jackson’s personal doctor, regularly gave him Propofol so he could sleep better at night. This resulted in Dr. Murray being tried for criminal charges and a medical malpractice lawsuit.

The accusations against Dr. Murray suggested that he was careless in giving Propofol to Jackson and failed to follow appropriate medical procedures. Additionally, it was claimed that Dr. Murray did not possess the required tools or staff to adequately observe Jackson’s state while he was under the effects of Propofol.

In 2011, Dr. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was also ordered to pay the Jackson family $100 million as restitution. The medical malpractice lawsuit filed against him was resolved through an undisclosed settlement reached out of court.

The unfortunate death of Michael Jackson due to the actions of Dr. Murray underscores the risks associated with medical malpractice and emphasizes the significance of adhering to appropriate medical procedures. It also reinforces the notion that healthcare practitioners must prioritize the well-being and safety of their patients above all other considerations.

Donda West

In 2007, Donda West, Kanye West’s mother, died a day after undergoing plastic surgery. Dr. Jan Adams performed a breast reduction and tummy tuck on her before she stopped breathing at home. The autopsy report attributed her death to heart failure and suggested that some factors after the surgery may have led to her death.

Even though it wasn’t reported that Dr. Adams was sued on behalf of West’s death due to his negligence, an investigation following the incident showed that he had been involved in multiple lawsuits related to malpractice in Orange County from 2006 to 2009. Additionally, Adams had faced several DUI charges and eventually gave up his medical license in 2009.

He was given an eight-month prison term for committing his third DUI offense within the same year. Despite having his license reinstated by the medical board in 2013, it was taken away again less than a year later because Adams did not complete the necessary requirements, such as submitting alcohol tests, joining an ethics course, and doing community service, to obtain his license again.

Closing Remarks

In the United States, thousands of medical malpractice lawsuits are filed each year due to cases where medical professionals fail to meet the necessary standard of care. Although most medical procedures are successful and trouble-free, some can result in serious injury or death.

The aforementioned high-profile lawsuits involving medical malpractice demonstrate the severe harm it can cause to patients and their loved ones. These cases emphasize the need to hold healthcare providers responsible for their actions and to implement appropriate medical procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Get the Legal Representation You Deserve

If you or someone you care about has suffered from medical malpractice, it’s crucial to find a lawyer who can protect your rights and help you obtain the appropriate compensation. 

At The Doctor Lawyer Firm, we are committed to standing up for your rights and making sure that wrongdoers are held accountable for their actions. Contact us today at 1-833-MEDMALS to schedule a free evaluation.

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not decide whether to contact a lawyer based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.