Henrietta Woman Wins Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jun 03 2008 at 3:21 PM
Medical Malpractice >>

A state Supreme Court jury has ordered Strong Memorial Hospital to pay a Henrietta mother $17.5 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

37 year old Brenda Schenk claimed that a Caesarean delivery injured her organs and resulted in the removal of her transplanted pancreas. Schenk had had a kidney and pancreas transplant 13 years ago to treat her Type-1 brittle diabetes, and had a Cesarean delivery in 2003 because of complication risks with her pregnancy. Schenk gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

According to the suit, doctors cut the connection between her pancreas and bladder during the operation because of improper planning. This caused pancreatic fluid and urine to leak into her abdominal cavity. The acidic fluid burned her organs and the infection led to her pancreas being removed. She can't get another transplant.

“This was her chance to fulfill her dream to be a mother. Instead of the birth of a child being the high point of her life, which it could have been and should have been, it turned out to be a nightmare,” said Schenk’s legal representative.

Schenk was happy about the ruling. "I felt that something should be done so that this doesn't happen again to any other woman. Just because you have a transplant doesn't mean you shouldn't have a child," she said.

Strong hospital officials expressed disappointment in the verdict. They are now planning to appeal the ruling.

“We deeply regret the complications suffered by Mrs. Schenk, yet given what the medical team knew at the time of her delivery, we stand behind the decisions that were made.”

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