The Berkowitz and Hanna LLC examines medical malpractice cases regularly, from botched surgeries to experimental procedures that produce complicated legal action. During surgery, patients are exposed to many risks and put their well-being in the hands of their surgeons. That’s at the heart of the attention-grabbing case involving the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in New Mexico. The question? Did dozens of patients suffer at the hands of their surgeon who allegedly performed experimental back surgery? Many of them suffered life-altering complications, so why did the hospital allow the doctor to continue working there despite red-flag warnings?
As you can imagine, fingers are pointed in many directions; attorneys for the plaintiffs contend that the hospital’s administration company, Quorum Health Resources, was negligent in hiring and supervising Dr. Christian Schlicht, allowing him to perform non-FDA approved procedures. The attorneys for Quorum contend the hospital’s medical staff is required to supervise physicians, not administration, and that the hospital’s boards of directors are ultimately responsible for hospital liability. A lawyer for the plaintiffs alleges that Quorum allowed the dangerous and reckless procedures “for financial gain.”
However as the case finally shakes out, it warrants scrutiny. When something goes wrong on the operating table, the consequences can be devastating. In fact, the Journal of the American Medical Association says that medical negligence is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. which is why we will keep an eye on this case.
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