Knoxville Family Prevails in Case Against Tennova Healthcare
When you go to the hospital due to an injury or illness, you expect that you will receive proper medical care from professionals who have been trained to diagnose and treat conditions like yours, so that you can get well again. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Medical professionals do not always provide care that meets the applicable standards of quality. Sometimes, this substandard care causes injury or damage to patients. At other times, it costs them their lives.
In 2009, Valerie Hurley’s family lost their only daughter because of errors which were made by medical staff who cared for her at St. Mary’s North. Valerie was a happy, healthy young woman who attended college, worked at the zoo, and lived an active lifestyle. One day, she fell and hit her head. She wanted to make sure that she did not have a concussion, so she went to the hospital.
At the hospital, Valerie learned that she did not have a concussion. Hospital staff did say that she was dehydrated, and they kept her overnight. Over the course of a day and a half, Valerie received nearly two gallons of intravenous fluids. Her mother became concerned as her daughter’s condition continued to decline. She wanted to call a doctor, but the nurse told her that there was no doctor to call.
Eventually, Valerie began to experience chest pain and she was having trouble breathing. She eventually collapsed, and the doctor was finally called. Unfortunately, the call was made too late, and Valerie died within a few hours of collapsing. Her family pursued a wrongful death claim against Tennova Healthcare, and they have been awarded three and a quarter million dollars in damages.
Some medical malpractice claims arise from situations involving individuals who undergo surgery when they are severely injured, or who are seeking medical care because of a severe or chronic illness. Valerie Hurley was a healthy woman who sought basic medical care in order to rule out the possibility of a head injury. It is likely that Valerie went to the hospital because she had heard the same “when in doubt, check it out” message that many of us hear regarding potential head injuries and injuries in general. Neither she nor her family could ever have imagined the tragic turn of events that would take place following what most people would agree was a responsible and reasonable thing to do.
If you or someone that you love has been injured or killed as the result of any type of medical malpractice, it is essential that you get help from a Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorney right away. The knowledgeable Memphis Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC are here to help you. We believe that the victims of medical negligence deserve top quality legal representation. To learn more about how we can help you, please call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
Read more about Thomas R. Greer