Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC Receives $5.9 Million Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case
On May 10, 2005, Ken Suggs obtained a $5.9 million verdict in the District of Columbia on behalf of a 62 year old woman and her husband. In the case, the surgeon and hospital failed to timely diagnose and treat a spinal epidural hematoma. The woman underwent a lumbar laminectomy which was done appropriately. The day after her surgery, she began experiencing problems, including urinary incontinence and increasing pain, which symptoms continued to get worse. On the second day after surgery, because of these increasing signs and symptoms, a resident performed a neurological strength examination, which showed very concerning results. The resident ordered that a CT myelogram be performed right away. The results of that test showed that a blood clot was pressing on the spinal cord. The resident began taking steps to prepare the patient for surgery to take out the blood clot. The attending surgeon reviewed the myelogram but also wanted an MRI done before taking the patient back to surgery. Regrettably, that test did not get performed for another two days. At that time, the patient was belatedly taken back to surgery, but the permanent damage had already taken place. The negligent failure to act promptly lead to the wife’s partial paraplegia and neurogenic bowel and bladder. The woman must now insert a urinary catheter in herself every 4 hours, 24 hours per day, and she wears a diaper for her bowel movements. She has been in and out of the hospital for urinary tract infections, leading to sepsis, many of which required extended hospitalizations.
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