Jury delivers $2.65 million medical malpractice verdict

By Daniel Hawn

Published on March 31, 2006

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate of Nancy F. Wilson who died six days after undergoing surgery at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale.

According to the lawsuit, Dr. William Steven Auriemma, a colorectal surgeon, operated on Wilson on Jan. 16, 2002 to correct a bowel problem. Dr. Auriemma allegedly failed to identify and treat a perforation in Wilson's bowel that ultimately led to her death.

Following closing arguments in the trial, jurors deliberated for less than three hours before finding in favor of the plaintiffs. The jury found Dr. Auriemma negligent in Wilson's death and they awarded $2,654,266 to Wilson's estate and her two children. The award included $2 million in damages for pain and suffering.

Two other doctors named in the lawsuit were cleared of wrongdoing.

After the jury announced its decision, Judge Carmen D. Minora rejected a request by Dr. Auriemma's lawyer to declare the case a mistrial.

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