$40 Million Awarded in Rhode Island Hospital Medical Malpractice Suit

A jury awarded $40 million to a North Providence man in what is believed to be the largest medical malpractice award in Rhode Island history. Represented by a medical malpractice attorney, Rhode Island resident Peter Sfameni was awarded $40 million, amounting to $62 million with interest, by a jury in Superior Court for errors made during his treatment at Rhode Island Hospital in 2010. Mistakes made throughout his medical treatment led to the eventual amputation of his right leg. Tapalian Law is a personal injury law firm located in Providence who is ready to fight for your right to compensation for a medical malpractice claim.

A Rhode Island Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help You Seek Compensation

A 2016 study by Johns Hopkins suggests that medical malpractice occurs more often than we think. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be extremely costly to physicians and hospitals. In 2015, an Exeter man was awarded $25 million, the highest award in a medical malpractice lawsuit at that time, in a malpractice claim against Rhode Island Hospital. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, or other medical professional, fails to properly treat a patient’s medical condition and their negligence results in harm or worsened injury to the patient. A medical error is not always a negative reflection on a particular physician but is commonly due to poor systems within a hospital or medical office setting. It is often due to a lack of communication among staff leading to poor patient care or an absence of safety protocols. Examples of medical malpractice cases include: missed or delayed diagnosis, birth injuries, anesthesia, or medication errors (incorrect dosage or prescription), and surgical errors. Guidance from a medical malpractice lawyer will assist you in determining if an error was made by your doctor or physician. In the case of Mr. Sfameni, he suffered from a genetic blood-clotting disorder requiring him to take blood thinners. He presented at the Rhode Island Hospital emergency room in December 2010 suffering from various medical issues. Throughout his care for these problems, he was taken on and off the blood thinners, based on the advice of the various doctors who treated him. While off the medication he became seriously ill, suffering from severe blood clots in his legs and lungs. His right leg had to be amputated due to gangrene.

Proof of Injury is Necessary in a Medical Malpractice Case

As with all personal injury claims, proof in a medical malpractice case must be made that injury occurred due to the negligence of another. In a medical malpractice suit, a medical error caused the harm. In the case of Mr. Sfameni, his medical malpractice lawyer argued that Sfameni would not have lost his leg to gangrene and suffered potentially life-threatening clotting if not for the errors of the doctor’s improper advice about the blood thinners. The amputation caused him to suffer from anxiety, depression, immobility, and isolation, the attorney claimed.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney for Your Medical Malpractice Grievances

Medical malpractice cases can be extremely complicated and often require extensive investigation and research. If you feel you, or a loved one, experienced an injury or harm due to a mistake by your doctor or other medical professional, seek the advice of an experienced medical malpractice injury attorney. At Tapalian Law, we offer a free, no-obligations consultation to victims of injuries due to medical malpractice, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip & fall accidents. We will carefully listen to the complexities of your particular situation, and advise you as to whether we think you have a valid personal injury case. There is a statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit, and the sooner you contact us, the better we can assist you in seeking fair compensation for your injuries. Contact medical malpractice attorney David Tapalian at Tapalian Law today at 401-552-5000 to discuss the particulars of your accident related injury or medical malpractice claim. You can also contact us via our easy, online form.