Largest Hospital Negligent Credentialing Verdict in Oklahoma
Brewster & De Angelis represented a minor child who suffered a life-altering injury as a direct result of negligent care and treatment during and after surgery.
Our client was diagnosed with a thyroglossal duct cyst, and it was recommended he undergo a Sistrunk procedure to remove the cyst. Our client alleged that the hospital allowed an unqualified surgeon to perform this surgery.
During the operation, the surgeon misjudged the anatomical landmarks of our client causing devastating injury to this child’s larynx. Damages were so severe that our client now requires a permanent tracheostomy and speaks with a hoarse whisper.
Throughout a week and a half trial, the Brewster & De Angelis team (Clark Brewster, Katie McDaniel, Jennifer De Angelis, and Guy Fortney) revealed Mercy Health System’s substantial failure to safely treat and care for a pediatric patient. The Mercy Health System had a duty to provide our client with a competent surgeon. Instead, they granted privileges to a surgeon with no evidence of current competency to perform a pediatric Sistrunk procedure on a 4-year-old patient.
The Oklahoma County jury found Mercy Health System’s conduct as reckless and intentional, rendering a unanimous $15 million compensatory damages verdict and $30 million in punitive damages.