In a pair of decisions,
The Court ruled a
The patient was two moths old when doctors when doctors at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital performed open-heart surgery, using contaminated blood.
The patient suffered a decade of health problems attributed to his heart condition. He then sued in 2001 after discovering he was HIV-positive.
Attorneys for the defense argued the time to file a lawsuit had passed.
In its ruling, the Court said the open-heart surgery did not cause the patient to develop AIDS, but that a lack of treatment led to the illness.
In another ruling today, the Court says a judge cannot award money in a wrongful death case if the jury chooses to award nothing.
The family of a baby, who died at 15 months, says doctors at Columbus Healthcare System failed to diagnose a rare blood condition.
However, at trail, expert testimony showed the baby died due to massive head injuries.
A jury awarded $100,000 for the child’s pain and suffering, but no damages for the infant’s wrongful death.
Later, the judge added $1 million, saying it was not right to acknowledge malpractice, but award nothing for a wrongful death.
The Supreme Court overturned the judge’s $1 million award and has sent the case back for re-trial.
