A 50-year-old woman was in a cross-walk when she was struck by a garbage truck. She suffered a permanent brain injury that left her unable to walk or talk. As a result of the settlement, she was able to get the therapy she needed to learn how to do these basic activities all over again.

A 40-year-old woman went to the emergency room eight different times in the two months following her bariatric weight loss surgery. Despite her reports of relentless nausea and vomiting, the doctors did not recognize that she was suffering from Wernicke’s Syndrome, a well-known complication from weight loss surgery. As a result of not getting enough thiamine (vitamin B) to her brain, she suffered a permanent brain injury.

A father of three young children went to the emergency room with classic signs of a heart attack. Although the doctor performed the corrects tests, he misinterpreted the results and told the patient he was okay to go home. A few days later, the young father went skiing with his son when he suffered a heart attack and died.

A 9-year old girl went to a small town urgent care clinic with classic symptoms of appendicitis. The doctor dismissed it as the flu and sent her home. Although her parents called several times over the next few days to report that she was not improving, the clinic said they could not help her. By the time she was seen again, her appendix had ruptured and the infection had damaged her nervous system to the point she is now a quadriplegic and confined to a wheel chair.

A 61 year-old man went to his cardiologist to get his heart tested. The doctor sent the patient to have a test performed and said he would call later with the results. The results of the test showed the patient’s heart needed urgent treatment, but the doctor did not call the patient. After not hearing anything for several days, the patient called the doctor’s office and was told a doctor would call him back. A few days later he called again, and was again told the doctor would call back. A few days later, the patient called a third time and got the same response. After another few days, the patient called a fourth time, and got the same response. A couple of days later, the patient called again, but still couldn’t reach the doctor. After leaving another message and sending an email, the patient went outside to work on his yard. Minutes later he suffered a heart attack and died.

A young mother was pregnant with her first child. A rural family practice doctor told her he could manage her pregnancy, rather than refer her to a specialist that could handle any complications. Unfortunately, complications arose and the doctor, along with the nurses at the small rural hospital, failed to recognize what was happening. The baby was deprived of oxygen for extended periods during the delivery and suffered a permanent brain injury.

A 38-year old man experienced persistent nausea and vomiting after bariatric weight loss surgery. Eventually he began having trouble with his vision. His surgeon, and several emergency room doctors, failed to recognize that his symptoms were related to a vitamin deficiency known as Wernicke’s Syndrome that is commonly associated with weight loss surgery. By the time they figured it out, the man had suffered a permanent brain injury.