Minnesota Patient Awarded $10M in Medical Malpractice Case

A Minnesota jury awarded a multiple sclerosis patient $10 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit after a medical resident mistakenly injected a drug into his spine that caused him severe injuries including seizures and neurological damage and required him to undergo further painful surgery. Five of the ten million dollar award comprised damages for his pain and suffering.

An injection that should have never been given

According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Larry Schultz, a former nuclear pharmacist, developed multiple sclerosis (MS) in the late 1980s. As part of his continuing treatment, he went to a St. Luke’s Medical Center in Minnesota to receive an injection to relieve the symptoms of his MS. He was given two drugs, Baclofen and Reno-60. The first was supposed to be injected directly into his spine, but the latter was not. The medical resident at St. Luke’s mistakenly injected both drugs into his spine, causing Shultz to suffer seizures, neurological damage, three fractured vertebrae and a fractured hip. He was confined to a wheelchair and had to undergo additional painful surgery.

He sued the hospital and the medical resident responsible for the malpractice and was awarded $10 million, five of which were for his pain and suffering. The other five million dollars constituted $4.5 million for future medical expenses and nearly $600,000 for past medical and health care expenses.

Do you have a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Medical malpractice lawsuits are filed when a medical professional’s services were negligently administered and resulted in a patient’s injury or death. Examples of medical professionals include doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals, clinics and others such as urgent care facilities and nursing homes, among others.

In order for the injured party, or the loved ones of the deceased, to succeed in a medical malpractice negligence case, four things must be shown:

• The medical professional or facility owed the patient a duty of care;
• The medical professional or facility breached that duty of care;
• That breach of care was the proximate cause of the patient’s injuries or death; and
• The injured party, or the loved ones of the deceased, suffered damages due to the actions of the medical professional or facility.

If you believe that you or a loved one may have been the victim of medical malpractice in Minnesota or elsewhere, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.