Family Settles Suit in 18 month old’s case for $1.25 Million
In New York and places like Indiana the problem of negligence is significant to the issue of medical malpractice. For instance, the NWI Times reports:
Chris and Karen Bartzis accepted a $1.25 million settlement last month from the Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund and Munster-based pediatrician Azra Sheriff in connection with their son’s death. The now-divorced couple sued Sheriff in Lake County Superior Court after a medical malpractice panel found in 2006 that the doctor committed malpractice in caring for the toddler.
It is the second time a panel determined malpractice in Sheriff’s care of a patient, the state compensation fund’s online database shows.
Only 10 percent of complaints filed with the panel are found to involve malpractice, according to a Times review of data in the Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund 2007 annual report.
Although it found malpractice in the Bartzis’ case, the medical panel determined Sheriff’s conduct did not harm or cause the death of Christopher.
Its interesting in this Indiana case that even though they didn’t cause the death of the kid, the government was still held to be responsible in this malpractice case.