A Bronx man was left paralyzed following spinal surgery at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia University Irving Medical Center) in 2002. Fourteen-year-old Edward Beloyianis visited the hospital for an operation to treat his scoliosis, a medical condition whereby the spine takes the shape of an S-like curve. The surgery left Beloyianis paralyzed for life. He died eight years after the surgery, according to the NY Times. His parents filed a medical malpractice lawsuit and the jury awarded $10,900,000 as compensation for their son’s death.
According to the medical malpractice attorney representing the Beloyianis’ family, the spinal surgery at the Manhattan hospital had left the victim paralyzed from the waist down. Investigations found that the surgical screws were misplaced and were pressing against the spinal cord- the primary reason for the paralysis.
A Bronx man was left paralyzed following spinal surgery at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia University Irving Medical Center) in 2002. Fourteen-year-old Edward Beloyianis visited the hospital for an operation to treat his scoliosis, a medical condition whereby the spine takes the shape of an S-like curve. The surgery left Beloyianis paralyzed for life. He died eight years after the surgery, according to the NY Times. His parents filed a medical malpractice lawsuit and the jury awarded $10,900,000 as compensation for their son’s death.
According to the medical malpractice attorney representing the Beloyianis’ family, the spinal surgery at the Manhattan hospital had left the victim paralyzed from the waist down. Investigations found that the surgical screws were misplaced and were pressing against the spinal cord- the primary reason for the paralysis.
However, Beloyianis was able to go to college and even get a job in computer repairs, despite being paralyzed. He managed to drive a car with hand-mechanisms and even attended the State University of New York. Unfortunately, the complications resulting from the paralysis eventually took Beloyianis’ life at 22. He graduated magna cum laude, although, sadly, his degree was posthumously awarded to him.
The Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
In their lawsuit, the parents claimed that the hospital had deviated from the acceptable margins of medical negligence when they failed to send Beloyianis for an intraoperative CT scan that would have diagnosed the misplaced screws. Beloyianis could have been prevented from being paralyzed, and his life could have been saved had the CT scan been done, his parents emphasized.
The jury awarded the family $45,000,000 as pain and suffering damages after determining that the defendants had committed clinical malpractice by failing to order a CT scan during a crucial diagnosis period. Following a post-trial motion by the defendants, a trial judge reduced the compensation for pain and suffering to $9,117,000.
The compensation for economic damages to the family, which was initially set at $5,625,000 to cover for expected financial support that the victim would have provided to the family over 20-30 years, was later reduced to $125,000 by the trial judge.
The case was finally settled at $10,900,000 in 2018.
Beloyianis’ case was just another example of the countless medical malpractice events that take place in NYC hospitals every year. Medical malpractice, especially in public hospitals, is a leading cause of patients facing life-threatening conditions, health complications, and even premature death.
The Legal Aspect
Incidents of medical negligence demand financial compensation, but a fair amount of payment to make up for the damages can only be secured with the help of a competent and experienced medical negligence lawyer.
Also, the laws that regulate medical malpractice vary by state and have many underlying complexities. Without proper advice and without consulting with an experienced medical negligence lawyer, the chances of securing justice are very slim. Hiring the right medical malpractice lawyer will give you the advantage you need to win your case.
Contact an attorney specializing in medical malpractice in NYC to discuss your case and determine if it is viable to file a lawsuit.
