Hospital Identity Mix-Up Shocks Family and New York Personal Injury Attorneys

Monday, 08 March 2010

Medical malpractice lawsuits may follow a case of mistaken identity

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center may face charges and medical malpractice lawsuits after confusing a live patient with one who had recently died in this hospital in New York. Personal injury attorney David Perecman labels it a case of mistaken identity.

A 93 year-old woman was admitted to the hospital after having trouble breathing. The mix-up occurred when the elderly woman's relatives called to see how she was doing. A hospital employee surprised them with bad news, informing family members that their loved one had passed away. The family discovered the mistake after they arrived at the hospital to make funeral preparations.

The relatives found that she had simply been moved to another room. However, it is also reported that the woman's great-granddaughter touched the "dead" woman and was traumatically shocked when the old woman moved. The younger woman is claiming to have suffered trauma and emotional duress as a result of the incident.

According to CBS2, the confusion began when a woman with a similar sounding name died earlier that morning.

"This is an unusual case where a happy ending may still become a medical malpractice lawsuit," commented David Perecman who has been practicing in New York, as a personal injury attorney, for over 25 years.

David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:

For the past 30 years, the New York personal injury attorneys, auto accident, construction accident, and medical malpractice attorneys at The Perecman Firm, PLLC have championed all types of cases for personal injury accidents. David Perecman, founder of the Firm, is a Board Director and the past Secretary and Treasurer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law Committee. Mr. Perecman's achievements have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in America" and The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition" for the years 2007-2010.

The Firm has recovered millions of dollars for its clients. Among the more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict* for a construction accident, a $5.35 million dollar verdict** for an automobile accident, and a $40 million dollar structured settlement for medical malpractice.

*later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million
** later settled for $3.5 million
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