In 2014 Joyce Bohren, a 54-year-old full-time cook, began to notice that she was suffering from hearing loss. She went to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where it was observed that she had two non-cancerous tumors in her brain, one of which was causing her hearing loss.
During the procedure, one of the attending surgeons cut an artery. This caused a stroke which left Bohren paralyzed on the right side, unable to speak, unable to swallow, and incontinent.
Requiring Around-The-Clock Care
Once healthy and independent, Bohren has since been forced to spend the past two years in nursing facilities. It is likely that she will continue to require 24 hours a daycare for the rest of her life. She is pursuing a claim against the University of Iowa and seeking more than $15 million in damages.
15,000 to 19,000 Malpractice Suits Filed Each Year
In the United States there are anywhere from 15,000 to 19,000 medical malpractice suits filed annually Between1996 and 2010 nearly $40 billion was paid out in malpractice diagnosis-related cases.
A report published in Health Affairs found that one in every three hospital patients in the USA will experience a hospital error.
Some of the most common surgical-related errors include:
- Leaving items inside a patient’s body once surgery is complete
- Operating on the incorrect part of the body
- Ongoing back pain after surgery
Other common hospital errors include:
- Receiving the wrong dosage or medication
- Misdiagnosis
- Bedsores
While some of these hospital errors may not lead to long term negative consequences, a HealthGrades Patient Safety In Hospitals Study report revealed that close to 200,000 patients in our country die each and every year from preventable in-hospital medical errors.
The Importance of Legal Assistance for a Surgical Malpractice Claim
At the law office of Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen we work tirelessly to protect the rights of our clients who have suffered personal injury caused by another, including brain injury.Our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys provide the emotional and legal guidance you need to protect your rights and to ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.
