Tennessee Firefighter Awarded $1.5 Million Compensation after Amputation to Madison County Doctor’s Malpractice
The Jackson Sun reported this weekend on the conclusion of a Tennessee medical malpractice trial that awarded a former Henderson County volunteer firefighter $1.5 million in compensation for a Tennessee doctor’s post-operation negligence that lead to the amputation of his left leg. The Madison County jury found in favor of Michael Derrick, who lost his leg to amputation to prevent the spread of infection contracted during bypass surgery in the leg.
Dr. George E. Thomas and his employer Madison Clinic Corporation will be responsible for reparations–which is not to say that they will replace the lost limb taken by their negligent and repeated oversights but that their insurance will have to cover the financial compensation for Mr. Derrick’s loss of limb.
Dr. Thomas performed the bypass surgery in January 2006. Mr. Derrick saw the doctor eight more times during the next month in follow-ups where he complained of fevers and chills. Dr. Thomas told him it was the flu; a week after the eighth visit, Derrick was told by an emergency room doctor that a bacterial infection had spread throughout his left leg and that Derrick had a choice: He could be minus one leg or lose his life.
Now, two years after the amputation from an infection that should have never been allowed to spread, Mr. Derrick will have some justice, though not his leg. As Derrick said to the Jackson Sun last Friday, “Money is not going to replace my leg. I’m just hoping that I can get the word out (so) that it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Thousands of Tennesseans put their health and trust in medical professionals every day. When this trust is betrayed by medical incompetence, those injured have the right to sue under Tennessee malpractice law. Just as no limit exists for the horrors–including birth injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, organ failure, aneurysms, blindness, organ failure, infection, amputation, coma, and death–a Tennessee patient might suffer from malpractice, Tennessee law placed no limit to damages the injured may be awarded. These medical injuries can be caused by incorrect diagnosis, delayed treatment, incorrect procedures performed, correct procedures performed incorrectly, or performing procedures without a patient’s consent.
If medical malpractice or negligence has tragically left you or your loved one injured, incapacitated, or worse, give the personal injury attorneys at HHP’s Nashville law offices a call at 800.705.2121 or toll free at 800.705.2121 to speak with a Tennessee malpractice attorney. Or fill out our Tennessee malpractice lawyer form.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
