As reported by the Truro Daily News from Nova Scotia, a woman that suffered a stroke in 1997 during a medical procedure has been awarded upwards of several million dollars that will help support her needs, and those of her teen daughter.
A Halifax physician was found negligent in providing the standard of care to V.A., 23 years old at the time, as ruled ay a Nova Scotia Supreme Court justice.
V.A., of Louisbourg, suffered a stroke because her doctors allegedly attempted to insert a central line in her internal jugular vein. When the procedure failed, the ensuing stroke caused her to be diagnosed with locked-in-syndrome.
Locked-in-syndrome refers to a state in which the sufferer has cognitive brain function but can only move her eyes to communicate.
Justice Cindy Bourgeois released a 102- page ruling outlining that Dr. S.G. struck V.A. twice in the artery while attempting to insert a line in V.A.'s neck.
Dr. S.G. was the senior medical resident in internal medicine during the 1997 event.
Bourgeois also noted that V.A.'s head was improperly placed during the procedure, recognized protocols were not adhered to and V.A. had not given Dr. (S.G.) consent for the procedure beforehand.
Bourgeois concluded, "In my view, there is sufficient evidence for the court to establish that Dr. (S.G.) actions on April 5, 1997, could have caused Ms. (V.A.'s) stroke."
Dr. S.S., a junior medical resident at the time, was originally named in the suit, however Bourgeois dismissed any claim against Dr. S.S. Bourgeois wrote, "I decline to find that Dr. (S.S.) fell below the requisite standard of care given the circumstances. I cannot reach the same conclusion with respect to Dr. (S.G.)"
Dr. S.S. worked under the guidelines our forth, according to Bourgeois, by Dr. S.G.
V.A. was originally transferred from a hospital in Sydney to be treated at QE II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax for a flare-up of her chronic bowel disease.
At the time of the incident V.A. was raising a two-year old daughter, now 17, and planning for her own wedding that May.
Three days prior to the stroke, two physicians had already failed to attempt the central line. By April 5 Dr. S.G. and Dr. S.S. spent 45 minutes trying to insert the line, and they too met with failure.
On April 6 V.A. began experiencing neurological symptoms that resulted in a stroke.
Bourgeois believes that the arterial punctures prompted V.A.'s stroke. Bourgeois said, "I find it probable that the artery punctured was the vertebral artery which prompted the development of a clot. This clot embolized and became lodged in the base of the brain."
Ray Wagner was the attorney for V.A. Wagner is hopeful that there will not be an appeal from Dr. S.G.'s legal counsel.
Wagner, in not divulging the amount of the settlement, said that the cash award is worth several million dollars.
V.A., with the help of her caregiver, was able to answer yes and no questions by using a basic letter board during the trial.
Being hurt instead of helped in a hospital is grounds for a lawsuit. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer to best serve your needs in a medical malpractice case.