Settlement reached in Los Angeles medical malpractice case

A million-dollar settlement has been reached in a medical malpractie case between the County of Los Angeles and a patient of an L.A.-area medical facility.

The patient suffered a punctured blood vessel while receiving treatment at the facility following an automobile accident. This occurred in November 2008.

The medical malpractice lawsuit stated that during treatment for the patient's injuries, she suffered a puncture to her blood vessel wall after a catheter tip was inserted.

This caused the patient, who was a minor at the time, to suffer further complications. She was treated for the injuries related to the car accident as well the punctured blood vessel and was released from the medical center just a few days later.

The California medical malpractice lawsuit, which was originally filed in June 2009, does not go into specifics on the type of complications the paitent suffered as a result of the punctured vessel.

Records show that the settlement in the medical malpractice case reached last month.

Officials for Los Angeles county stated that they felt that the medical malpractice lawsuit would be difficult to fight in court because of the Res Ipsa Loquitur doctrine. This doctrine says that as long as the device that caused the injury was in the exclusive control of the medical facility, the negligence is persumed even if no sign of an act of negligence is present.

The accident and subsequent medical malpractice lawsuit prompted officials at the medical center to re-train nurses and hospital staff on the proper use of catheters.

If you believe that you have been the victim of medical negligence or medical malpractice, consider contacting the Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates for a free legal consultation. Visit our website by clicking here, or give us a call toll free at (800) 541-9376.