It is hard to believe that what should be a simple, routine procedure could turn tragic. But that was the case for a family in New York who is now suing Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York, for alleged negligence that resulted in permanent brain damage to their 19-year-old daughter.
After complaining of stomach pains, she underwent an endoscopy. But shortly into it, things went awry when abnormal changes in her blood pressure and heart rate resulted in oxygen deprivation. The damage to her brain is so severe that she cannot see, communicate or move.
Although it is not known how much the parents are seeking in damages, they indicated that their finances have been drained as a result of their daughter’s medical care. The lifetime care for permanent brain damage can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when in a long-term facility, such as the case for this 19-year-old victim.
Seeking Compensation in a Medical Malpractice Claim
When families are dealing with a tragedy such as this, escalating medical costs aren’t the only concern. There may be other damages suffered that could also be sought in a medical malpractice claim. And unfortunately, rare is the family that happens to have so much accessible money.
For instance, parents who must care for a child may be unable to work, or if the injured person was the main provider of the family, that income may be recovered in a claim. There may be damages for the psychological suffering that families endure, such as mental anguish or emotional distress.
When medical negligence causes a loved one to be seriously or fatally injured, family members may be entitled to compensation. To go over legal rights in such cases, an attorney should be consulted. Gacovino, Lake & Associates handles medical malpractice cases and can assist families pursuing such cases.
