Florida Woman Settles Flesh-Eating Bacteria Malpractice Case

A settlement has been reached in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by a Florida woman who claims she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria during the delivery of her child at Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital.

Claudia Mejia Edwards, who eventually lost all four of her limbs, said the hospital attempted to discharge her after she complained of chills, rash, a fever, and other symptoms of the bacteria. Doctors eventually operated and discovered that Edwards had gangrene and Group A Streptococcal infection, which in layman's terms refers to a flesh-eating bacteria.  The removal of her limbs was necessary to prevent her death.

Edwards' lawyer alleged that one of her nurses was guilty of "wanton and reckless conduct" after she refused to testify under oath as to whether she was ever trained to identify the infection, and as to whether or not she noticed the infection on Edwards.

Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals have a legal duty to abide by the proper standard of medical care in their field.  When a medical professional fails to do this, and as a result causes injury or death to a patient, they can be sued for damages.

Edwards' lawsuit was settled for an unspecified amount.

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