Anesthesiologist Found Guilty of Medical Malpractice Still Working at Same Hospital Reports Cleveland Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Dec 31, 2011
Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) December 30, 2011 – This case is disturbing in that the doctor that killed a patient due to lack of proper care, but is still employed by the same hospital.
“I have been practicing law for a long time,” said Christopher Mellino. Mellino is a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer and wrongful death lawyer of The Mellino Law Firm LLC, in Ohio. “But I have to say, I don’t think I have run across this kind of a situation that often. It’s one that makes patients think of their worst nightmare: a doctor, an anesthesiologist no less, still working after being found guilty of killing a woman due to medical negligence. Most people think the doctor should be sanctioned or have his license suspended, and not find him working in the same hospital where the death occurred.”
The back story in this reported case involves a 70-year-old woman who died of internal bleeding and low blood pressure after gall bladder surgery. When this case went to trial, the jury found the anesthesiologist did not take adequate care of the woman and handed down a $280,000 award. As part of the verdict, the hospital where the incident took place was found not liable. The doctor/anesthesiologist was liable, and yet still works at the same hospital in the same role.
To be fair, any story has more than one side and there may have been other factors involved in this case as well. Nonetheless, the case went to trial and a jury heard all of the evidence, finding it compelling enough to find him guilty of medical malpractice and award the family $280,000.
The odd thing about this case is that after the verdict the hospital issued a statement that insisted they provided quality care and were always evaluating their systems to determine how to improve them. They added that when the care a patient received was not up to expectations, they aimed to improve their care. Still employing the same doctor that a jury found guilty of medical negligence seems to be a drastic deviation from their stated goals.
“Ultimately, medical malpractice cases are never easy, and in many cases, not cut and dry. This is the main reason why if you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you need to take the time to consult with an experienced Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer. Justice may only be done if we build a solid case together. Know your rights and what to expect if your case goes to court,” added Mellino.
To learn more or to contact a Cleveland Medical Malpractice attorney or Cleveland malpractice attorney, visit http://www.christophermellino.com.
Mellino Law Firm LLC
200 Public Sq., Suite 2900
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Call: (216) 241-1901
