Shotgun yields a jackpot

March 24, 2007

A neurologist loses a verdict in a back surgery case. He was in the OR for less than 10 minutes, and didn’t even operate on the patient. He got caught in the crossfire of a shotgun lawsuit. An unfortunate outcome, but the wrong doctor was targeted.



Related posts:

  1. When you’re falsely accused in a shotgun lawsuit
  2. Charlie Weis takes losing badly
  3. Unnecessary workup in the emergency department
  4. Charlie Weis: Malpractice trial reactions
  5. The 30-year old patient with chest pain
  6. Triple-bypass surgery, wrong films
  7. Missing the jackpot


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{ 8 comments }

1 RJS March 24, 2007 at 5:15 pm

I assume he can appeal? That’s outrageous.

2 William, The Doctor Job Blog March 24, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Unless there are more facts that weren’t explained, that seems like something that would have no problem getting affected on appeal. Why didn’t the judge issue a JNOV (judgment not withstanding the verdict)? It’s amazing.

3 Anonymous March 24, 2007 at 5:45 pm

Hey but there is nothing wrong with the present system of the lowest common denominator on the jury right? What an advertisement for health courts

4 Greg P March 24, 2007 at 6:25 pm

The connection here is that the part he was involved with is evoked responses of the spinal cord, done to try to avoid problems like this bad outcome. The argument no doubt made was that there was a problem with the technical aspects or the interpretation of the responses, and that’s what this neurologist got himself involved in.

5 Anonymous March 25, 2007 at 2:11 am

We don’t have all the facts, but we have what may be the determinative facts:

“Fulton County” and “Jury”

6 David March 26, 2007 at 10:49 am

There are some good comments in the linked post that people should read.

7 Anonymous March 27, 2007 at 2:04 am

Ted Frank, and Kevin for that matter, don’t worry about the full story if they can generate a headline that supports their cause of immunity for insurers in Ted’s case and physicians in Kevin’s. That anyone would expect unvarnished facts from tort reform lobbyists or put any stock in their interpretation of a case is the surprising thing.

8 sarah Palmer November 14, 2007 at 7:50 am

Frank P is my Neurologist and not a more caring or finer doctor in my opinion. Not my Cardiologist but he sent me for a TEE to determine that I needed a PFO Closure. My Cardiologist suspected this but never mentioned it to me so I suffered a second stroke. I credit Dr P for saving my life along with the help of God. He is a fine man and I am very sorry that a bunch of greedy lawyers would go after this man. I hope this is reversed in the future. S Palmer

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