Recent Posts in Medical Malpractice Category

A Manhattan hospital and one of its doctors are being sued by the family a patient who died in their care.

The family of Felita Dowdy, a 33-year-old woman from the Bronx, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against St. Luke’s Hospital and Dr. Bruce Lish. Dowdy’s family is claiming both the doctor and hospital are responsible for her death.

The lawsuit stems from a hospital visit that left Dowdy brain damaged. As reported in an article on UPI.com, Dowdy had cerebral palsy, a condition that caused her teeth to rot. She came to the hospital on July 23, 2009 to have her teeth extracted. At some point after her teeth had already been extracted, Dowdy went into respiratory arrest, causing her to suffer brain damage. She sadly passed away in October. An autopsy concluded that her cause of death was complications from the surgery she received at the hospital.

The family’s attorney, Stuart Kitchner, also claims the drug fentanyl contributed to her death.

The family is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.

The hospital said it extended its deepest condolences to Dowdy’s family, but that it could not comment on the lawsuit because it is still pending. Lish could not be reached for comment but his father, Dr. Jerome Lish who is also a dentist, said his son has experience treating disabled patients and is not at fault.

Whether you have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, a car accident, a dangerous drug, or another type of accident or injury, if you think another person is at fault you should take a moment to consult a Pasadena personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. The law entitles you to benefits if you can prove another person’s negligence or reckless actions contributed to your loved one’s death. For more information about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, please contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today to arrange a FREE consultation!

A Riverside County jury has sided with the victim in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Trent Hughes filed a medical malpractice claim against Christopher Pham, a neurosurgeon at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. Hughes is claiming that Pham failed to treat his injury in a timely matter, which resulted in paraplegia.

Hughes came to the hospital after falling off his vehicle while off-roading. Complaining of searing pain in his lower back and a tingling sensation in his feet, Pham should have reported to the hospital within 20 minutes of Hughes' arrival. Hughes’ lawsuit states that Pham, who was on call that day, did not examine Hughes until the next day, and did not operate on Hughes until two days after he was admitted to the hospital. By the time Hughes finally received treatment it was too late. Hughes is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Hughes’ attorneys also provided evidence that Pham planted documents to make it appear like he was at the hospital, when in actuality he wasn’t. 

Hughes was awarded $16.5 million in by the jury. However, due to California’s cap on medical malpractice damages, Hughes will only receive $500,000 of a portion of the jury award totaling $3.75 million.

Have you suffered an injury or debilitating condition due to the negligence of a doctor, hospital, or medical professional? If so, a  San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus can help you pursue a medical malpractice claim. To learn more about your legal rights under California medical malpractice laws, please contact the office at (888) 203-PAIN to schedule a FREE consultation to discuss your case.

A Palo Alto man’s efforts to do a good deed certainly didn’t pay off the way he planned.

For the last ten years Christopher Bui, 43, has been donating his type-O blood to Stanford Hospital for free, never asking for anything in return except for help if something should happen as a result of his donations.

Well, something did happen and now the hospital is refusing to help.

In 2008 Bui contracted a debilitating infection. When the cost of treating the infection became too much for Bui to afford, the hospital denied him treatment.

Bui has now filed a lawsuit against Stanford Hospital and clinics, Stanford Blood Center, Stanford University, and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, school of medicine and medical center. In his lawsuit, Bui claims the hospital failed to live up to their promise to take care of him. He also claims the hospital was “unjustly enriched by taking his blood under false pretenses and selling it.”

Bui is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. He is waiting to see how much the hospital earned from selling his blood.

If you are searching for a Ventura County personal injury lawyer who has experience in medical malpractice laws, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today by calling (888) 203-PAIN. The Ventura County office serves clients throughout Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley.

A Los Angeles hospital is at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit after being sued by none other than film star Marlon Brando’s ex-wife.

Anna Kashfi is suing CHA Health Systems and the doctors at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in charge of her son’s treatment. She claims the hospital was “reckless in providing medical care and monitoring Christian.”

Christian Brando, son of Kashfi and Brando, died from pneumonia in 2008.

Kashfi, who claims the hospital is responsible for her son’s death, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.