After years of delays in her radiology malpractice case, Sue Apsey has finally won her claim when a jury awarded her nearly $3 million.

Apsey’s claim against Shiawassee Radiology Consultants and Dr. James Deering alleged that during an operation in January 2000 to remove a cyst from her ovary, the radiologists failed to notice that she had a dangerous bowel leak.

Further complicating the situation, Apsey was given barium, a potentially toxic heavy metal, to help with imaging.  Because there was an undiagnosed leak in her bowel, the barium leaked into her intestines and caused what is known as chemical peritonitis, a dangerous infection.  Apsey was forced to go several surgeries as a result.

Ms. Apsey originally filed her case in 2000, however it was delayed for years while it went through several appeals.  Finally, a jury found in Apsey’s favor, holding Shiawassee Radiology guilty of medical negligence and awarding her $2.978 million.  Unfortunately, malpractice caps in the state of Michigan will reduce the verdict significantly.

This case is a perfect example of how lengthy medical malpractice cases can sometimes be.  It’s important to know this before you decide to pursue a lawsuit, so you are not disappointed or frustrated with how long it can take.  If you find that you have been a victim, seek consultation with a medical attorney right away, and don’t give up.  Like Ms. Apsey, you might find yourself victorious in the end, even if it takes a while.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 18th, 2009 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Medical Malpractice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.