South Carolina State Jury Awards Patient $ 13.75 Million In Medical Malpractice Action Against Hospital For Untreated Sepsis, Resulting In Multiple Amputations
In the morning of Dec. 6, 2012, Seletha Gartrell arrived at the emergency room of the Aiken Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in South Carolina, suffering from severe sepsis. The sepsis developed into septic shock and shortly thereafter, she arrested, had a Code Blue, and her pulse was restored. Her extremities, however, showed mottling and other signs of ischemia. As a result, she was later forced to undergo amputations of both legs above the knee, amputation of her left arm below the elbow, and amputation of the fingers of her right hand.
On March 27, 2015, Gartrell filed a medical malpractice complaint against a number of defendants, including Universal Health Services, Inc., d/b/a Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Inc, d/b/a Aiken Regional Medical Center, in the Circuit Court for Aiken County, SC. The original complaint included claims against these additional medical providers: Mary Pippin, R.N., Heather Bouknight, R.N., David Hatmaker, M.D., Jon Carter, M.D., Aiken Physician Services, LLC, Aiken Pulmonary Associates, LLC, and Miroslav Zotovic, M.D. Through the complaint, Gartrell alleged that the hospital's physicians failed to properly diagnose the sepsis and failed to promptly order IV antibiotics. Further, she maintained that the nurses allegedly failed to administer the antibiotics for several hours after they were eventually ordered. In addition, the medical staff allegedly failed to provide Gartrell with sufficient fluids and even administering a diuretic.
According to a Law360 article, the nurses administered potent drugs without following doctors' orders and without informing the doctors that they had done so. The drugs reduced the flow of blood in her limbs, and after a weeklong stay in an intensive care unit, Gartrell was transferred to another hospital, where the decision was made to amputate.
The claims against the hospital only proceeded to a jury trial before Judge Clifton Newman. On March 1, 2017, the jury reached a verdict in Gartrell's favor, finding that the hospital had been negligent, but that there was not clear and convincing evidence of recklessness and wantonness by the hospital. Accordingly, the jury declined to award punitive damages, but it did award Gartrell $ 10,000,000.00 in economic damages such as loss of income and future medical expenses, as well as $ 3,750,000.00 for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering.
Plaintiff was represented by Chad A. McGowan and John G. Felder of McGowan Hood & Felder, LLC, in Columbia, SC. Defendants were represented by Barbara A. Chesley and George C. Beighley of Richardson, Plowden & Robinson; Joseph A. Farchione and Lamar Jost of Wheeler Trigg & O'Donnell; and Jack Gordon Gresh of Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Lexis Advance subscribers may view the complete summary, including expert information and award details, here: Seletha Gartrell v. Universal Health Services, Inc., dba Aiken Regional Medical Center; Jon C. Carter, M.D.; Mary Pippin, R.N., et al; 2016 Jury Verdicts LEXIS 831.
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