The head of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute responds to the $13.5 million verdict awarded to a family during a malpractice trial:
We all know that cancer is a terrible disease that still claims far too many lives. Unfortunately, even as we work intensely to develop newer, more effective treatments, we aren’t always successful and complications can arise. That does not mean that we did anything wrong, something that juries less familiar with the complexities of cancer and cancer care don’t always appreciate.
topics: jury, health courts
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Two points: the verdict was under ten million, a little over 9 million. The higher figure quoted is only for interest, which can be avoided by settling. They should have settled here, because they did wrong.
It’s not that she had cancer (ewings sarcoma), or that she had a complication from an unusual protocol she agreed to accept: its that they dismissed, refused to address a complication she complained of repeatedly, a gut infection which killed her. If they had investigated and treated her complaint appropriately, even if she had died there would be no verdict against the hospital.
Lesson: Denial is a powerful force even among trained professionals. Pay attention.
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