Man Who Lost Leg Awarded $1.5 Million
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 320
Tags:
None
A man from West Tennessee was awarded $1.5 million by a jury
in Madison County, Tennessee against a Jackson,
Tennessee doctor and the medical
corporation he was employed with after the man lost a leg due to an infection
during a surgical procedure, according to court records. The award was made
against Dr. George Thomas and Madison Clinic Corp. on August 12. Cedar Grove, Tennessee
resident Michael Derrick was the plaintiff in the case.
"The money is not going to replace my leg,"
Derrick said. "Most people don't get a second opinion; they trust the
doctor to know what he's talking about.”
Derrick said that he underwent bypass surgery on his left
leg performed by Thomas at the Regional Hospital of Jackson in January 2006. He
said that in March of that year, he returned to Thomas complaining of fever and
chills. He said Thomas diagnosed him with the flu.
Approximately a week later, Derrick went to Baptist Hospital
in Nashville, Tennessee complaining of severe pain which
required emergency surgery on his left foot. He said doctors at Baptist
informed him of a bacterial infection which had spread into his left leg and
required amputation. He said the doctors told him he nearly died from the
infection.
Derrick’s complaint alleged post-operation negligence on the
part Thomas and negligence for his failure to inform Derrick of the risks and
alternatives before obtaining his consent for surgery, according to one of his
attorneys.
During eight visits with Thomas after his surgery, Derrick
was not diagnosed with the bacterial infection until it had spread to the point
where amputation was required, according to another of his attorneys.