Kentucky Woman Awarded $9.8 Million in Medical Malpractice Case

A woman in Kentucky was awarded $9.89 million on Wednesday when a jury in a civil medical malpractice case ruled in her favor.

Latricia Satterwhite became paraplegic after a routine heart surgery back in April of 2006. The surgery on Satterwhite's mitral valve took less than one hour to complete, and was done successfully. But according to medical experts who testified in court, the surgeon who operated on Satterwhite misplaced the cannula, or hose, for a machine that pumps oxygen into the heart. As a result, too much blood and oxygen were pumped into her right hand, and too little was pumped to her brain and thoracic spinal cord.

Satterwhite is now no longer able to walk and has suffered mild to moderate brain damage, according to her attorney James Bolus.

But the surgeon who operated on Satterwhite, Dr. Michael Sekela, is disputing that the cannula was misplaced and that he is responsible for her accident. Sekela's attorney, Rich Schiller, said Sekela is considering an appeal.

Satterwhite was awarded more than $455,000 in past medical expenses and more than $4 million for future medical bills. She was also awarded $480,000 in lost wages and $4.5 million for pain and suffering, making the total verdict $9,864,175.78.

Dr. Sekela was found 31% at fault for the accident, the anesthesiologist was found 23% at fault, and the perfusionist (the person operating the lung machine) was found 41% at fault. However, because the anesthesiologist and perfusionist settled with the patient outside of court, they were not involved in the trial.

If you or someone you love is the victim of a surgical error, click here to find a medical malpractice attorney near you!