Family of Wrongful Death Victim Awarded $14 million
By Daniel Hawn
Published on August 29, 2005
According to lawyers, the award is the largest ever made in a medical malpractice case in Lubbock County.
On October 29, 2002, Vicki Bramlett went to Covenant hospital to have a hysterectomy. Dr. Benny Phillips performed the procedure. Four days later, Bramlett died in her hospital room.
The Bramlett family filed a malpractice lawsuit against Phillips alleging that he failed to properly care for Bramlett while she was at the hospital.
During the trial last week, the Bramlett family attorney, Tommy Turner, argued that Phillips encountered complications in carrying out the hysterectomy but failed to address them. He said that Phillips left the hospital after the surgery to attend a personal training session and that during this time Bramlett died.
Lawyers for Phillips argued that the hospital staff did not provide him with adequate information regarding Bramlett's health throughout the procedure and during the period of post-operative care.
According to Turner, the jury's decision Saturday sent a strong message to other medical providers in the area, warning them of what will happen if patients aren't afforded adequate care.
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