Richmond County Woman Receives $1.57 million Malpractice Settlement

By Grant Law Office on September 19, 2015

Earlier this summer, Melissa Gravitt won a substantial malpractice suit against her former Augusta OBGYN, Dr. Peter Grossman. According to an article in The Augusta Chronicle, in 2011, the 36 year old Gravitt underwent a laparoscopic surgical procedure to increase her possibility of becoming pregnant. During the operation, she suffered a small bowel perforation. Because bowel perforation is considered an acceptable risk for that type of surgery, it was not the cause for Ms. Gravitt’s claim. It was the doctor’s aftercare negligence that brought the medical malpractice suit.

The day after her surgery, Gravitt went to the emergency room with a high fever, racing pulse, and lower abdominal pain—classic symptoms of a perforated bowel. Four days later, she returned to the emergency room with an elevated white blood cell count, an extended abdomen, and vomiting—more symptoms of a perforated bowel. In spite of these symptoms, Dr. Grossman failed to order a CAT scan for two more days. A CAT scan will reveal almost all perforated bowel injuries. Due to Dr. Grossman’s reluctance to order the CAT scan, Ms. Gravitt was forced to undergo two more invasive surgeries.

Medical doctors need a great deal of education, practical training, and supervised practice to become licensed physicians. When you go to a doctor for treatment, you expect a superb level of competence. When this contract of trust is violated and causes you an undue amount of discomfort and trauma, you deserve to be compensated for it.

A person’s health is their greatest wealth. Good health allows us to live our lives vigorously and in comfort. A misdiagnosis by a medical professional can have both temporary and long-lasting effects on a patient’s health, happiness, and livelihood. If you feel your physician has committed an act of medical malpractice, you need to call an experienced malpractice lawyer.

Grant Law Office has represented medical malpractice clients over the years. We care, deeply, for the victims of medical incompetence.

Call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free case evaluation.