Woman Awarded $950,000 in Medical Malpractice Case Against Sheriff’s Office

Even if a person is in a jail or detention center, they have a right to receive necessary medical care. A South Carolina woman did not receive medical treatment while she was in a detention center, causing her to develop an abscess and sepsis, nearly dying. She sued and received a $950,000 jury award in October.  A separate medical malpractice lawsuit against South Health Partners Inc. was settled out of court.

In the case, an Aiken County jury found that the sheriff’s office was grossly negligent in providing medical treatment to the woman while at the detention center.

The woman filed the lawsuit after suffering an abscess while at Aiken County detention center and failing to receive proper care during her stay.

The woman was incarcerated at the Aiken County detention center on May 3, 2019 and stayed there for just over a month.  Shortly after arriving at the facility, the woman developed a knot on her head and was given ibuprofen. While guards were on duty monitoring the woman, they were not available to treat her injuries.

Several witnesses said the knot on the woman’s head grew to the size of a softball and even reshaped her head. While at the detention center, she developed an infection and an abscess. Sadly, despite her worsening condition, the woman was not provided appropriate medical treatment.

and she eventually passed out and was transported to the local hospital.  Hospital physicians diagnosed her with a bone infection, sepsis and multiple abscesses.  She was transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where she stayed  for over a month.

According to the lawsuit, the sheriff’s office failed to diagnose and recognize the woman’s symptoms, causing her to have surgery to remove part of her skull.

Contact Us Today

Even if a person is incarcerated, they still have a right to medical treatment. The denial of medical treatment can support a claim for medical malpractice.  However, these are complex matters and every case is different.

The Columbia medical malpractice lawyers at Simmons Law Firm will gather evidence and guide you through the process to determine whether you have a claim. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (803) 779-4600.

Source:

postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/crime/aiken-county-sheriffs-office-lawsuit-950000/article_7416914c-72ad-11ee-8631-037565e50667.html