Medical Malpractice: Wrongful Death
VERDICT: $2.5 Million (Total Value); $1.75 Million (Present Cash Value)

46 year old man entered hospital for elective surgery for diverticulitis (inflammation of colon). He had no underlying diseases or medical problems. The surgery itself went well. Post-operatively, the surgeon ordered morphine for pain medication. The patient, over the next 18 hours, became overly sedated from large doses of morphine. The wife became aware of this, and notified the nurse. The nurse shut off the morphine, but failed to contact the doctor about the over-medication. Three hours later, the wife returned to find her husband lifeless in bed without pulse or respiration. A code blue was called and he was resuscitated. However, he was brain dead, and machines were discontinued 3 days later.