Medical malpractice attorneys have filed a lawsuit in Nebraska, in the Douglas County District Court, following a case of medical malpractice which led to the death of a two year old. Almariah Izabel Duque was approaching two years of age when her life came to an abrupt end. The young girl was given ten times the recommended dose of heparin as she was undergoing kidney dialysis. We have unfortunately found that this type of tragic occurrence is not uncommon in the medical world today.
Family Seeking Damages for Their Little Girl’s Death
The Duques brought their baby girl to Nebraska for a transplant after she was born with congenital defects. Almariah received a pancreas, liver, and small bowel transplant in late December of 2009. She was discharged from the hospital a few months later but quickly returned as she developed an infection.
The infection caused her kidneys to shut down, requiring her to undergo dialysis. The problem arose when the pump, used to disperse heparin, malfunctioned. The young child was given nearly ten times the proper dose. The mistake was not discovered for five hours and it caused severe bleeding in Almariah’s brain. The young girl passed away two short days later. The parents of the girl have filed a lawsuit seeking money damages for Almariah’s wrongful death, her suffering while she was living, and their emotional distress over losing their young child.
We also believe that the family will challenge the constitutionality of a state law which caps the maximum medical malpractice verdict award at $1.75 million. This issue has been litigated before, and in 2003, four judges left the door open for a challenge of this law because it may infringe on the right to due process.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our professionals. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Many young children who suffer from a cleft palate may also have a alveolar ridge defect. The alveolus is the upper gum where the teeth are located. Defects in the alveous are not uncommon in young children who suffer from birth defects such as cleft palate. These defects in the upper gum may first displace or rotate the permanent teeth that have grown in. Secondly, in young children, these defects may prevent the adult or permanent teeth from descending and appearing. Finally, we say that this sort of defect may also prevent the alveolar ridge from properly forming. These can develop into serious problems for children and parents should seek dental consultation as soon as possible. Fortunately, we know that these problems are fairly common and can generally be fixed through some form of oral surgery. Following surgery, the young child will be able to show off a beautiful smile without any displacement or rotation of the teeth.
As pressure sores begin to develop, the skin will remain intact. This may confuse people into believing that it is simply a skin rash rather than the development of something more severe. People with a lighter complexion will notice that their skin is becoming red. Individuals with darker skin may not notice any significant changes in the coloring of the skin. People will also notice that their skin will not blanch, or briefly lighten, when it is touched or pressure is asserted. 
Juries frequently award plaintiffs both economic and non-economic compensatory damages. Medical malpractice attorneys explain economic damages as monies awarded to cover financial losses such as medical expenses, care expenses, and lost wages. Economic damages are frequently used to cover both the past and the future. Individuals who, because of negligence, can no longer work are entitled money damages for the time that they have already missed as well as future absence from their job. Medical malpractice attorneys explain non-economic damages as money that has been assessed for the injury itself. The types of recovery for non-economic damages are somewhat endless. Examples of these damages include psychological and physical harm, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, emotional distress, and many others. Finally, punitive damages are used to “teach the defendant a lesson,” and they are generally utilized in the case of some sort of wanton or reckless conduct.
During discovery, each party will conduct interrogatories, depositions, and file many requests for documents, in an effort to get to the bottom of the controversy. The plaintiff is required to prove each and every element of negligence (by a preponderance of evidence in civil court) in order to prevail in his or her medical malpractice claim. The first element is that the defendant (the physician, nurse, or hospital) owed a duty to the patient, such as caring for them or providing treatment. 
A Connecticut jury rendered what 
The lawsuit, filed by the estate of Ms. Farrell, charged the hospital and Dr. Shander with negligence, but a Superior Court jury found that neither was liable for any form of malpractice. Nearly three years later, the appellate court put a halt on the lower court’s ruling because the trial judge should have asked potential jurors if they had read a New York Times Article before the trial began. The article could have potentially swayed the emotions and prejudices of the jurors which could have led to an unfair influence on the verdict. 
The worry among medical malpractice attorneys has been that the new rules limiting the ability of plaintiffs to bring lawsuits may place a significant obstacle in the way of patients finding justice. Medical malpractice has been a hot button issue in nearly every jurisdiction within the country, with many politicians concerned with stabilizing the costs of malpractice insurance. Medical malpractice attorneys’ chief concern is that rules that are over-expansive may keep meritorious cases from reaching a courtroom. On the other hand, many medical malpractice attorneys believe that these new rules in Pennsylvania may help those patients bringing strong negligence cases to court. Although the new standards on negligence have been put into place to limit frivolous lawsuits, those patients with strong cases will have more of the judicial resources at their disposal.