Earlier this year in February, a Bronx jury handed down a $6.1 million award to the surviving family members of a man who died after undergoing heart surgery while in New York Department of Corrections Custody. According to local news reports, Juan Francisco Hidalgo Flores was awaiting trial at Rikers Island prison for drug-related charges – that were later dismissed—when he was placed in New York Department of Corrections medical care. Mr. Flores underwent heart surgery performed by New York Correction Health Services, a division of NYC Health + Hospitals. As a result of the “botched” medical procedure, Mr. Flores suffered necrosis of the leg and his leg was amputated. He also suffered from a pierced esophagus that led to serious medical failures in his body. Mr. Flores also had a heart attack when doctors allowed him to fall off of the operating table during surgery. During the cardiac arrest, Mr. Flores’ heart stopped for over eight minutes. Mr. Flores’ medical team was instructed by emergency doctors to perform an MRI of Mr. Flores’ heart, but it was never done. Jurors in the horrific medical malpractice case noted of their decision, “At the end of the day you can send ten thousand specialists to testify, but right is right and wrong is wrong…the defense was busy trying to rule out that somebody made a mistake…You can’t tell me that neglecting to perform the MRI on his heart as was instructed and allowing him to “slip” off the operating table are normal medical protocols.” Mr. Flores’ son, Jacob, said of the terrible medical malpractice that killed his father, “What happened to my father, who was perfectly healthy when he was originally incarcerated, was gruesome…They turned him into a rotting corpse and he had to live out the final two months of his life like that.” Mr. Flores’ son also noted that his father was a diabetic, and did not receive his medication while at Rikers. Mr. Flores’ son believes that the lack of diabetes treatment contributed to his father’s death. The $6.1 million award in the case is the third highest jury award in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a person incarcerated at Rikers Island prison.
Legal Help for Families Seeking Justice for the Death of Their Loved Ones due to Doctor Medical Malpractice in New York City
As the tragic and horrific case involving the death of Mr. Flores at the hands of his doctors demonstrates, medical malpractice can and does happen in New York City and New York City families should know their rights and options under New York medical malpractice laws. Bad things happen to good people. We are here to help you find out what really happened in your case, and then get the justice and compensation your deserve. If your loved one was killed, or made to suffer at the hands of their doctor or medical team, it is important to learn about your rights for compensation under New York medical malpractice laws.
The experienced New York City medical malpractice lawyers at the law firm of Michael Gunzburg, P.C. are here to help New York City families get justice for the loss of their loved ones at the hands of negligent doctors. Contact Michael Gunzburg, P.C. today and speak to an experienced New York City medical malpractice lawyer about your case now.
Source:
cityandstateny.com/personality/2024/02/family-man-incarcerated-rikers-who-died-after-botched-heart-surgery-wins-61-million-jury-award/394062/