An appeals court has overturned a circuit court judge's decision to discontinue a negligence lawsuit filed by a patient who allegedly acquired a MRSA infection during a hospital stay at Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart, Fla., according to a TCPalm news report.
Louise Webster was admitted to the hospital in May 2002 for surgery to repair a broken ankle. During Ms. Webster's hospital stay, she allegedly acquired an MRSA infection that later caused complications and permanent injury, according to the news report. In 2005, she filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.
In 2009, a circuit court judge threw out the lawsuit, ruling that Ms. Webster's attorneys "failed to prove a direct link between the care she received at Martin Memorial and her becoming infected with MRSA." The lawsuit went to an appeals court, which found that the circuit court judge had erred and "misplaced the burden," according to the news report.
The hospital's legal counsel is investigatingF the court decision. Alexander Webster, Ms. Webster's husband, is pursing the lawsuit. Ms. Webster died in 2009 following health complications unrelated to her MRSA infection, according to the news report.
Read the news report about the medical malpractice lawsuit against Martin Memorial Medical Center.
Read other coverage about MRSA infections:
- Regional Initiative Reduced MRSA Rates by 44%, Increased Cost-Savings by $35M
- Proposed Bill Requires Maine Hospitals to Screen High-Risk Patients for MRSA Before Admission
- Contaminated Surfaces, Skin Sites Equally Likely to Cause MRSA Contamination
Louise Webster was admitted to the hospital in May 2002 for surgery to repair a broken ankle. During Ms. Webster's hospital stay, she allegedly acquired an MRSA infection that later caused complications and permanent injury, according to the news report. In 2005, she filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.
In 2009, a circuit court judge threw out the lawsuit, ruling that Ms. Webster's attorneys "failed to prove a direct link between the care she received at Martin Memorial and her becoming infected with MRSA." The lawsuit went to an appeals court, which found that the circuit court judge had erred and "misplaced the burden," according to the news report.
The hospital's legal counsel is investigatingF the court decision. Alexander Webster, Ms. Webster's husband, is pursing the lawsuit. Ms. Webster died in 2009 following health complications unrelated to her MRSA infection, according to the news report.
Read the news report about the medical malpractice lawsuit against Martin Memorial Medical Center.
Read other coverage about MRSA infections:
- Regional Initiative Reduced MRSA Rates by 44%, Increased Cost-Savings by $35M
- Proposed Bill Requires Maine Hospitals to Screen High-Risk Patients for MRSA Before Admission
- Contaminated Surfaces, Skin Sites Equally Likely to Cause MRSA Contamination
