The son of an Alabama woman who passed away in 2005 from a brain hemorrhage was recently awarded a $5 million judgment after a jury declared that the doctor that had been treating his mother was guilty of negligence. Dr. Frank Gillis had been treating Florine Bryant for atrial fibrillation, which is the most common form of an irregular heartbeat.
Dr. Gillis had previously been cleared of any wrongdoing in 2010, but an appeal reversed the initial decision and allowed for Bryant’s son, Joey Frazier, to pursue damages for medical malpractice.
Left untreated, atrial fibrillation can cause stroke and even death, but with proper monitoring and treatment, the patient can live a long, normal life. Bryant’s death, however, was argued as a scenario in which the patient was the victim of medical malpractice, as Dr. Gillis didn’t properly test Bryant for side effects and complications from the prescription medication Coumadin.
Coumadin is a drug that is generally prescribed to counter thrombosis (blood clots) and embolisms (blood clots that lodge in veins or arteries); however, without sufficient blood testing of a patient, excessive bleeding can develop and significantly complicate the patient’s health. In Bryant’s case, a lack of testing and supervision led to her death.
Frazier was awarded $5 million by the Colbert County Circuit Court because his attorneys proved that Gillis’ negligence ultimately led to his mother’s fatal complications from using the prescription medication.
Source:
Sherer, Dennis. The Times Daily. “Colbert jury awards $5 million in medical malpractice lawsuit”. 06/16/2012.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are no limitations on damages in Florida medical malpractice cases. The state no longer places damage caps on the compensation claimants can receive in medical malpractice claims. Caps previously in place ranged from $150,000 up to $1,500,000 based on the type of injury sustained and the type of defendant—for instance, a doctor, hospital, or
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“Contributory” or “comparative” negligence in relation to medical malpractice means a claimant contributed to their own harm, and cannot obtain full compensation from the other party. This legal standard bars claimants from recovering full compensation if they were partially at fault for the damages they incurred. In medical malpractice cases, contributory negligence can prevent patients from recovering
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