$1.0 Million Settlement in Medical Negligence Action Against Hospital For Failure to Report Symptoms of an Arterial Tear.

Plaintiff was a 76 year old female who had undergone cervical spine surgery. A post surgical drain was removed which caused a tear in an artery servicing the para spinal muscles. The plaintiff alleged the hospital nursing staff failed to recognize signs and symptoms of this hemorrhage and timely report them. As a result, there was a delay in diagnosis and treatment of the tear, which resulted in a prolonged spinal cord compression which damaged parts of the plaintiff’s spinal cord. She lost partial function in her upper extremities above the wrist and a partial neurogenic bladder. This led to the need for subsequent medical treatments and related economic losses. The hospital denied negligence and causation. The case settled for $1.0 million prior to trial.