Man awarded nearly $8 million in hospital negligence lawsuit

Many residents of Louisiana may personally know or know of someone whose job requires them to perform some form of manual labor. These individuals may often be very aware of their physical health because an injury could result in them being unable to perform their job. Even seemingly minor injuries or minor aches and pains can eventually worsen and result in career-ending injuries if they are not treated quickly and properly. One man was recently awarded millions after he was paralyzed due to hospital negligence.

The patient, who was injured moving freight at work, went into an urgent care facility complaining of back pain. While he was there, the staff continuously moved him and performed numerous tests on his spinal cord. Unfortunately, the patient’s symptoms continued to worsen as the tests continued.

At one point, the staff attempted to take an X-ray of the patient’s spine but were unable to because of the patient’s inability to stand up. Eventually, the patient was unable to walk, but the staff continued to move him and perform tests. A jury agreed that the facility staff had numerous opportunities to recognize the patient’s symptoms and implement the proper protocol in regards to neurological injuries, which includes restricting the patient’s movement.

The irritation of seemingly simple injuries can cause long-lasting or even permanent damage to the patient. Louisiana residents who believe that they are victims of hospital negligence may wish to consult with an attorney. With the help of a lawyer, these individuals may be able to determine if a negligence lawsuit is warranted and what compensation they might be entitled to cover past and future medical costs.

Source: idahostatejournal.com, “East Idaho man awarded $7.9M in medical negligence case“, Marc Basham, May 3, 2018