Sketchy details here, but this is what we have:
The case arose because Jessie Sturdivant suffered an aneurysm and Barrau admitted him to Parkway Regional. After a disagreement with another physician, Barrau stopped acting as coordinator for Sturdivant’s care and stopped checking on the patient, the complaint said.Sturdivant fell into a coma and died.
Not sure what the “disagreement” was. Perhaps it was an argument over which service this patient was to be admitted to – which happens relatively frequently. In any case, having no one check up on the patient cost this doctor dearly.
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So what happens if you are ordered to pay $9 million and have no insurance? Would you just be in debt for the rest of your life? I think I’d just stop working altogether. What would be the point?
Bankruptcy is what happens.
Most cases like this settle, even after judgment. If there was any merit to taking this to trial from the perspective of the defendant, then there is always the risk of reversal on appeal. So $9 M to nothing less costs. That never looks good for plaintiff’s counsel.
I know of a good neurosurgeon that had a 7 mil judgement against him. He disappeared and nobody has heard from him since.
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