State Claims Commission Awards Metheny Family $2M

The Arkansas Claims Commission has ordered the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to pay $2 million to the family of a man whose surgeon operated on the wrong side of his brain. The claims commission on Tuesday released its order in the case of Cody Metheny, who was 15 years old in 2004 when he had surgery at Arkansas Children's Hospital to correct a seizure disorder. Doctors operated on the wrong side of Metheny's brain, causing what Metheny's parents called "extensive and permanent, irreparable harm," including deteriorating intelligence, "psychotic delusions" and "continuing seizures." More: Click here to read the commission's order (PDF). In its ruling, the commission found UAMS "negligent and responsible for the harm" sustained by Cody and his parents, Kenny and Pamela Metheny. Even though the surgery took place at ACH, the commission held UAMS responsible because it employed Metheny's surgeon, Dr. Badih Adada, and other doctors on the surgery team, and said that UAMS "covered up" the wrong-sided surgery. Leslie Taylor, vice chancellor for the Office of Communication & Marketing at UAMS, said Wednesday that UAMS was disappointed with the commission's findings and is considering its legal and procedural options. "We really feel like the decision, respectfully, … was an erroneous decision," she said. Taylor said UAMS and ACH are separate entities, but noted that UAMS has training relationships ACH and eight other hospitals in Arkansas. She said UAMS bei...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news