Spine and orthopedic malpractice cases produced jury awards and settlements ranging from $750,000 to $27 million over the past year.
Here are three cases Becker’s reported on, ordered by amount.
Editor’s note: This list is not exhaustive and includes only cases reported by Becker’s during the period. Verdicts may be appealed, reduced or otherwise modified.
- $27 million spine surgery verdict: A Florida jury awarded $27 million to a couple who alleged delayed recognition of spinal cord compression following spinal cord stimulator surgery left the patient partially paralyzed. The jury found Melbourne, Fla.-based Holmes Regional Medical Center 75% responsible and the surgical team 25% responsible. Health First, the hospital’s parent system, said it planned to appeal the ruling.
- $11.5 million knee surgery settlement: The University of California Board of Regents paid $11.5 million to a patient whose leg was amputated after an outpatient knee procedure at UCI Health. The patient alleged a major artery was severed and cauterized during surgery and that the injury was not discovered in time to save his leg.
- $750,000 hip surgery verdict: A Maine jury awarded $750,000 to a patient who suffered permanent impairment after hip replacement surgery at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth. The jury found the hospital and an orthopedic surgeon liable for negligent care after the surgeon reviewed the wrong X-ray during follow-up, delaying revision surgery and leading to further complications.
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