End of life care or turning off life support for a loved one is a subject nobody wants to face. This is probably one of the most difficult and heart-breaking decisions that millions of people have to confront when a loved one is critically injured and not responding to medical treatment. Unfortunately life is filled with risks and a variety of situations can cause a loved one to be placed on life support, including complications resulting from surgery, anesthesia problems during or after surgery, a dangerous accident, or a child born with birth injuries resulting in severe brain damage.
A loved one placed on life support who is not responding to medical treatment places the family members in a very heart-wrenching and uncomfortable position, deciding if and when to turn off life support or end life care. Another complication may arise if the doctor or medical staff advises the family that they should remove the family member from life support. In a situation like this, people would rarely ever question the doctor's motives and simply be thinking the doctor believes there is nothing that can be done to save the patient or continue life support much longer. In fact, they may think the doctor is purely thinking of ending the suffering the patient may be going through.
However, there may be more to a doctor's recommendation than merely thinking of the patient or family's best interests. For example, in California, the law places a maximum cap on how much a family can collect for wrongful death from medical negligence for non-economic damages at $250,000. Therefore if a doctor or medical professional negligently caused a patient to fall into a coma, with no immediate recovery foreseen, or a very costly recovery foreseen, it could cost the hospital or medical facility millions of dollars to keep the patient alive and provide medical care. However, if the patient died, it would only cost the medical facility $250,000. This is information every family needs to be made aware of when deciding what is truly in the best interest of their loved one and everyone involved. Before rushing to a decision, consider doing your research, seeking a second opinion, even seeking legal consultation from a medical malpractice attorney who is also a licensed medical doctor, such as Dr. Bruce G. Fagel. Dr. Fagel will provide you with an independent opinion that will shed truth on the matter and allow you to make up your own mind without the influence of someone who may be biased or not serving your best interests.
Our law firm has handled many medical malpractice cases involving situations like this, and with a background as a licensed medical doctor, including practicing emergency room medicine for over 10 years, I have experience in evaluating situations like this and helping clients determine if medical negligence was the cause of the injury. If you believe a family member was critically injured by medical negligence, call us for a free consultation to find out about your legal rights, including your right to be compensated for medical care for your loved one for as long as they need medical help.
