Paramedics Negligence Lawsuit Settled For $2.75M

Introduction

A Hillsborough County jury awarded $2.75 million in settlements to the family of a 30-year-old stroke victim who died due to medical negligence of the county's ambulance crew.

According to the lawsuit, the victim was found unconscious in the early morning hours of July 4, 2018, by her mother. She instantly called 911 for help and informed that her daughter had a swollen lip and was drooling on the bathroom floor.

The suit further states that four paramedics, along with an in charge, were at the scene when the victim was vomiting and complaining of headache and sensitivity to light. The victim was rushed to a Temple Terrace emergency room operated by Brandon Regional Hospital as she suffered from seizures on the way. Doctors determined that she suffered a stroke resulting in a swelling of the wall of an artery and acute bleeding in her brain. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she was in a coma for five days and died later.

County Administrator apologized to the family, disciplined the four medics, and fired the in charge of the ambulance crew. He even added that the disaster was a result of the country's lack of care and service.

The approval of the settlement came in June, ordering the county to pay $300,000 to the estate of the deceased and the remainder due of $2.45 million, the family plans to seek next year in Tallahassee if approved by the state Legislature and governor.

A similar lawsuit was filed in 2017 against a hospital for the medical negligence of a 70-year-old woman. The careless procedures and treatments from the hospital authorities resulted in one of her legs being amputated, and she was paralyzed from the waist down. She underwent 35 surgeries and required constant care post the surgeries. She received $17 million as a settlement for the damages.

Comments