Brain Injury Victim Awarded $4.9M For Hospital Malpractice

A teenager who was the victim of hospital malpractice that resulted in a permanent brain injury has been awarded $4.9 million. His story, like many others who have suffered brain injuries, shows how important it is for healthcare providers to be held accountable for their actions.

According to a recent article in the San Francisco Business Times, the then 17-year-old Raymond Palmer was stabbed at a San Diego trolley stop in May 2011, taken to the University of California, San Diego Medical Center and later transferred to Kaiser Zion hospital, also known as Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.

Shortly after the transfer, Palmer’s breathing tube allegedly became dislodged and he had no pulse or blood pressure for approximately 13 minutes resulting in permanent brain damage. His family sued Kaiser for failing to maintain the appropriate standard of care and Palmer was awarded $4.9 million.

Common Brain Injury Causes & Types

Medical malpractice like what happened to Palmer isn’t the only cause of brain injuries. Others include car crashes, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian crashes and bicycle accidents, falls, violence, sporting events, combat injuries and many more which can lead to these common types of injuries:

• Concussions. Concussions are the most common type of head injuries and can result from any trauma to the brain and can cause an instant loss of awareness.
• Contusions. Contusions are injuries to brain tissue, which can result in brain damage if left untreated.
• Brain bleeding/hemorrhages. Brain bleeding or hemorrhaging can occur within the skull outside of the brain, or within the tissue of the brain itself, and can result in coma or death if left untreated.
• Coma. Comas are prolonged periods of unawareness and function that can be due to brain injury and last indefinitely.
• Permanent cognitive impairment. Permanent cognitive impairment results from the brain being deprived of blood or oxygen, which can lead to permanent brain damage.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI can include fatigue, memory loss, concentration problems, impaired judgment, mood changes and altered cognitive function. The symptoms of TBI can last for an indefinite length of time and may persist for months or years.

These are only a few of the types of brain injuries that occur every day resulting in billions of dollars in medical costs, rehabilitation, lost wages, physical and emotional pain and suffering (for victims and their families) and possibly more.

“Brain injuries can have lifelong consequences, be very costly to treat, and in some cases be fatal,” according to Greg Bubalo, Managing Partner and Head Attorney at the Becker Law Office. “If a brain injury leads to severe permanent brain damage or death, family members of victims can also take legal action to recover compensation for loss of companionship and lost financial support.”

If you or a family member has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced brain injury attorney who understands how brain injuries occur, how they’re treated and the very real consequences they can have on your life – and those of your family.

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