The family of a young man who gave up football because of persistent knee problems then died from preventable complications following knee surgery has settled its lawsuit against the doctor, nurses, and healthcare system that they say could have prevented the death. After knee surgery, the man, aged 22, was recovering at home when he was found to be unresponsive, then was rushed to the hospital, where he died on October 29, 2003.
The family charged that the doctor and nurses at the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center were negligent in their aftercare, failing to properly monitor the man and also failing to properly notify the family about potential complications and side effects of the medication he was receiving. They also contend that his pain control problems should have resulted in his hospitalization rather than simply a prescription for stronger pain medication—medication that killed him, according to a coroner’s report.
Although the care providers settled the suit, they failed to acknowledge responsibility. The doctor, citing compassion for the family’s loss, “simply wanted to purchase peace,” according to his lawyer.
Of course, this case shows that the time to address concerns about a doctor’s care are immediately, rather than having to address them in a wrongful death case four years later. But if you and your loved ones have suffered as a result of medical malpractice or medical negligence, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at the law firm of Marc Whitehead and Associates, accepting cases in the Houston, Galveston, and Baytown areas.
