Suzette Carlin, who has been battling for over a decade after suffering surgical malpractice, has finally won her case. A jury awarded her $2.4 million to compensate her for the botched bowel surgery she underwent in October 1998, which has left her scarred and in constant pain.
At the time of the incident, Mrs. Carlin was already in the hospital where she was receiving ongoing “conservative medical management” for what doctors had diagnosed as an obstructed bowel. Her gastroenterologist had determined that her condition was improving, and decided to keep her on the course of treatment she was on.
That all changed, however, when her gastroenterologist left town for a few days and she was seen by Dr. Zahid Chohan, a surgeon, who immediately scheduled Carlin for surgery the following day during which he removed more than twelve inches of her intestine.
Over the next several months Carlin was forced to undergo additional surgeries and was treated for multiple infections and complications caused by the original procedure. Her medical attorney stated that Carlin spent a total of 88 days in the hospital, and must take medication daily to combat the pain she experiences. She also has difficulty controlling her bowels and is terribly scarred.
The medical malpractice trial lasted three weeks before the jury found in favor of the plaintiff and her husband, awarding them $2.2 million and $200,000, respectively.
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It is surprising just how many bowel injuries occur in surgery.
In the UK Medical Negligence Services suggest that over 1000 people die each year due to negligent surgery and its results.