Man awarded $5.6 million in malpractice lawsuit after having leg amputated at medical center
WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY/Gray News) - A man whose leg was amputated has won a multimillion-dollar medical malpractice lawsuit against Samaritan Medical Center.
According to the Cherundolo Law Firm, a state Supreme Court jury in Jefferson County awarded Roger Altman and his wife $5.6 million, more money than they originally requested.
The lawsuit stemmed from an emergency room visit to the Watertown hospital on June 6, 2018.
“Despite clear signs of serious illness and dangerously low blood pressure, life-saving intervention was delayed,” the law firm stated. “Within hours, circulation to Altman’s leg deteriorated beyond repair, requiring an above-the-knee amputation.”
The law firm said that when the surgical site became infected, a second procedure was needed to remove the remaining portion of Altman’s leg up to the hip.
According to his attorneys, Altman, who was 75 at the time, had been healthy and active, exercised regularly, swam often and enjoyed being able to travel overseas to visit family.
However, the amputation permanently altered his life, his attorneys said.
The case was tried by attorneys Peter Papayanakos and Patrick Lannon.
“The loss of Mr. Altman’s leg was entirely preventable if basic, yet critical, measures had not been overlooked by the doctor in charge of Roger’s care,” Lannon said. “I think this verdict sends a clear message that Upstate New York juries are ready and willing to hold negligent healthcare providers able.”
The law firm said the physician was working on a temporary basis, but the hospital was found legally responsible for his actions.
“This was a catastrophic injury that never should have happened,” Papayanakos said. “Roger was failed, and that failure came with devastating consequences.”
Papayanakos said the lawsuit originally sought $4.5 million in damages for Altman and his wife, Rosa. But the jury upped the amount to $5.6 million in its verdict.
He said this marks the second major malpractice verdict involving a leg amputation at Samaritan Medical Center in recent years.
A spokesperson for the Samaritan Medical Center said its team works to provide quality care for all of its patients.
“Samaritan Medical Center strives to provide high-quality care to all patients, however, adverse outcomes sometimes happen,” a statement from the medical center said. “This is an unfortunate circumstance, but we cannot comment directly on this active court case or any situation regarding patient health information.”
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