The Mississippi Supreme Court upheld a $4 million verdict in a medical malpractice case against Hospice Ministries and Dr. William Causey, but they reversed the $500,000 award for punitive damages.
The lawsuit was related to an incident in 2001 when Ersel Alllen was misdiagnosed with pancreatic cancer and then given a lethal dose of painkillers. Allen’s autopsy revealed that she never in fact had cancer.
According to Allen’s attorneys, massive doses of the painkiller Dilaudid led to her death. The attorney representing Dr. Causey and the hospice claims that Allen’s death resulted from a number of factors, and would have occurred even if she hadn’t taken the painkillers.
Dr. Causey’s lawyers appealed the verdict mostly to prevent it from setting a personal injury law precedent. He claims hospice patients often build up a tolerance to their medications and therefore need more potent dosages.
If you have suffered injuries as a result of medical malpractice, it is important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you receive fair and proper compensation for your damages.
If you have a medical malpractice claim in the Jackson, Mississippi area, please contact the law offices of Coxwell & Associates, PLLC today to schedule an initial consultation.
